> Surgery as Treatment Option for Lung Cancer - Risks of Lung Cancer Surgery, Questions to Ask your Doctor, Surgery Pictures
(October 9th, 2009)

> Researchers Seek Clinical Trial Patients for New Mesothelioma Drug: Gefitinib
(September 25th, 2009)

> Secondary Cancer in the Lymph Nodes - Role of Lymph Nodes in the Body & the Lymphatic System
(September 18th, 2009)

> Talcum Powder Slows Down Growth of Lung Cancer Tumors
(September 15th, 2009)

> Carbon Nanotubes that Look and Behave like Asbestos could cause Pleural Mesothelioma
(September 11th, 2009)

> Chest X-Rays Can Detect Early Lung Cancer, but also Alert many False-Positive Results
(September 7th, 2009)

> Peritoneal Mesothelioma – Cancer of the Peritoneum or Linings of the Abdomen - Symptoms of Peritoneal Lung Cancer, Role of Asbestos & Treatment Options
(August 31st, 2009)

> History and Advent of Cancer Treating Chemotherapy – Nitrogen Mustard as Anti-Cancer drug, Invention of Red Clover to treat Respiratory & Malignant Lung Cancers
(August 30th, 2009)

> Intra-peritoneal Therapy – Delivery of Chemotherapy Drugs in to Abdominal Cavity, Port and Catheter
(August 30th, 2009)

> Chemical Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions or Fluids in Lungs
(August 26th, 2009)

> Evaluation of Pleural Thickening and its Effects on Development of Malignant Lung Cancer
(August 23rd, 2009)

> Chest X-Ray – Uses of Chest X-Rays, How to Prepare for X-Ray Session, Performance, Risks & Results, and Normal versus Abnormal Results
(August 15th, 2009)

> Multi-cystic Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum - Examinaton of the Pelvis, Abdominal Mass using Ultrasound, Process of Hysterectomy by a Gynecologist
(August 5th, 2009)

* > Mesothelioma Lung Cancer & Effects on Army, Navy & Marine Veterans - Asbestos Exposure in Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Submarines and Navy Ships
(May 18th, 2009)

* Ruth Phillips - 10 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Living Large - Discussion of Immuno-Augmentive Therapy & Other Cancer Treatments
(May 5th, 2009)

* Prevention of Lung Cancer when You are at Risk, or when You Already Have Lung Cancer
(April 27th, 2009)

* Research Suggests Vitamin D Plays a Large Role in Preventing and Fighting Lung Cancer
(April 21st, 2009)

* What Types of Lung Cancer Exist? Differences between Small Cell & Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer
(April 15th, 2009)

* Steve Lee, 63, from Reading UK, Completes Half Marathon with Asbestos Lung Cancer
(April 8th, 2009)

* Basic & Advanced Symptoms of Mesothelioma & Common Misconceptions
(March 28th, 2009)

* Choosing Your Mesothelioma Doctor - Medical & Radiation Oncologists, Laparoscopic Surgeons
(February 4th, 2009)

* Study Suggests Computed Tomography (CT) Scans Increase Risk for Cancer Development - Mesothelioma News
(November 30th, 2008)

* Diagnosing Mesothelioma & Pathological Testing
(February 6th, 2009)

* Eat Fruits & Vegetables - Prevent Cancer and Stay Healthy
(January 12th, 2009)

* Gardening & Good Diet Leads to Less Lung Cancer Risk
(January 7th, 2008)

* PhotoDynamic Therapy - Types of Mesothelioma Treatments
(March 18th, 2008)

* Surviving Lung Cancer - Thoracic Surgeons Roll Out New Tumor Removal Procedure
(January 20th, 2009)

* Timing of Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Options - Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy
(February 5th, 2008)

-> Mesothelioma is rarely developed by young people, and it has no relation with smoking, despite of rumours about this. Infact, Mesothelioma can take over 40 years to develop, before full diagnosis is realized!

-> There are about 200 - 500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year, making it a very rare disease. Furthermore, peritoneal mesothelioma measures at about 20 - 30% of all mesothelioma cases in any given year. Approximately 54.7% of all the diagnoses are males and the rest are females. The median age when peritoneal mesothelioma develops is 65 - 69 years.

-> Fluid accumulated in the abdomen (also known as Ascites) is detected and removed through Paracentesis (a procedure that drains fluid from the abdomen of the body by the use of needles).

(View Archives)
 

Types of Mesothelioma Lung Cancer - Peritoneal, Pleural & Pericardial Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is when the abdominal lining of the abdomen becomes cancerous or malignant and could develop into a full mesothelioma tumor. Take a look at the diagram below to see the abdominal lining, which is also known as the Peritoneum (marked in blue). The peritoneum is an insulator or covering for all the organs that exist in the abdomen. It is made up of 2 parts:

i) Visceral peritoneum: Insulates the internal organs of the abdomen and comprises of most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract.

ii) Parietal peritoneum: Insulates the abdominal cavity.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma occurs when the pleural sac surrounding the lungs, abdomen and ribs becomes malignant or cancerous due to asbestos exposure. The pleural sac, or plainly known as the pleura, contains a thin membrane called the mesothelium. It is the job of the mesothelium to secrete fluids that permits the lungs to expand and contract when breathing. Take a look at the image below to see the lungs, ribs and how the pleura insulates all these organs. When a person inhales asbestos fibres, a build up of these fibres occurs in the lungs. Because these fibres are ultra small and microscopic, they can very easily penetrate through the walls of the lung and into the pleural cavity, and the abdominal cavity. As these asbestos fibres progress from the lungs into the pleural cavity, they destroy the mesothelium by mutilating and shredding it. Destruction of the mesothelium potentially leads to cancerous diseases such as mesothelioma.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is a type of cancer that makes the lining of the heart (also known as the Pericardium), cancerous or malignant. It is also referred to as mesothelioma in the pericardium or pericardial sac. Found in less than 10% of all cases, pericardial mesothelioma is a rare type of secondary lung cancer. How pericardial mesothelioma is formed is not well known; the research is not out there. Unlike pleural mesothelioma where asbestos fibers enter into the lungs and inject into the lining of the lungs (pleura), such is not the case for pericardial mesothelioma.

Check out the image below that shows the placement of the pericardium in the heart. The pericardium is the thin sac enclosing the heart. As asbestos fibers enter the lungs, they may be broken down into very small pieces that enter into the bloodstream of the body after the heart oxygenizes blood flow. As asbestos fibers pump through the heart, they invade the pericardium. Upon invasion of the pericardium, they cause scarring and inflammation of the heart, thus beating the body's natural defenses. This leads to chest pain, chronic cough and problems with breathing. Also, if symptoms are left to persist, the pericardium can unnaturally expand thus constricting the normal functioning of the heart and causing heart failure.

 

 

 

 

 

Mesothelioma Books