Feed: About Mesothelioma - AggScore: 51.9

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can be either malignant or benign. The malignant type of mesothelioma is the most hazardous form of cancer and may be deadly in most cases. This cancer affects the tissue known as the mesothelium, which protects the heart, stomach, lungs, and other organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move.

Causes of Mesothelioma
Almost always this type of cancer is caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a kind of fiber present in insulation and building substances because of its resistance to heat, chemical damage, and electricity and is naked to the human eye.

Mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer where early diagnosis increases the amount of effective treatments. Unfortunately, due to the way it forms, the cancer-also known as asbestos cancer-may not manifest until anywhere between 20 to 50 years after an asbestos exposure. Regardless of when this exposure occurred, it is important to tell your doctor so that the correct diagnosis can be made.

Occupations At Risk
Exposure to dangerous asbestos fibers has caused the development of cancer in a variety of different employees and occupations over the years. The fibers, once inhaled or ingested, begin to scar the tissue inside of the body. 70 to 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases reported were because of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Because it takes anywhere between 20 to 50 years to manifest, occupations held in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and even into the 1970s may cause mesothelioma in lives today. Such occupations may include:

Auto Mechanics
Blacksmiths
Brake Mechanics
Bulldozer Operators
Carpenters
Cement Finishers
Construction Workers
Drywall Tapers
Electricians
Foundry Workers
Inspectors
Insulators
Janitors
Mason Laborers
Merchant Marine Seamen
Millwrights
Miners
Navy Personnel
Painters
Pipe fitters and coverers
Plasterers
Plumbers
Railroad Workers
Roofers
Shipbuilders
Welders

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some point in their life because there are low levels found in the air, water, and soil. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases typically manifest after a lengthy exposure, but in some cases a short intense exposure could cause a person to develop mesothelioma. For example, survivors, first responders, and those nearby at the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center may also be at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. These include firefighters, policeman, volunteers, paramedics, construction workers, and nearby residents.

Asbestos exposure that may lead to mesothelioma could also occur in non occupational exposure. Although the occurrence of mesothelioma is three times more common in men than women, some cases have been found in women and children whose exposure has been through contact with the clothing of those who worked with asbestos.

Throughout history, since the Ancient Greeks, asbestos has been loved for its durability and fire retardant properties. The Greeks used the fiber for table cloths that, when they got dirty, could just be tossed into the fire to be cleaned. With time, humans have used asbestos in a wide variety of products. In the 20th century, the uses expanded as the number of items needing to be insulated expanded as well.

In addition to its insulation properties, asbestos was used in homes not only to insulate but to make them safer in the event of a fire. In this regard, asbestos was added to insulation as well as any number of other things. By adding a fire retardant material to homes, it was thought that everyone that lived in them would be safer. One of the biggest areas for asbestos in a home was in a popcorn ceiling.

Popcorn ceilings were not really ceilings but rather a spray-on coating applied to an existing ceiling. They were excellent for covering up any blemishes in the construction. In addition, they added a sound-proofing quality to the ceiling that made it less likely for a noise in the room to carry throughout the house. In these ways, they were extremely useful.

Like all textured finishes on walls or ceilings, popcorn ceilings have their downsides. One huge downside is that they are very difficult to clean and also provide many nooks and crannies for dust and dirt to hide. The bigger, more important, downside is that they frequently contain asbestos. Not all popcorn ceilings that were applied in a roughly 30 year span contain asbestos but many do.

When the ceiling contains asbestos, it is very dangerous to put up a ceiling fan or drill anything into the ceiling. Another huge problem is that when they are cleaned, the asbestos in the ceiling easily flakes off and becomes airborne. This is because the asbestos in a popcorn ceiling is extremely friable. To say that it is friable is to say that the asbestos easily escapes the confines of whatever structure it is in. Asbestos in flooring materials is not nearly as friable as that in a ceiling.

A huge hazard arises when a family or couple or individual buys an older home with the intent of remodeling it. Many older homes in older neighborhoods have established landscaping and lots of charm making them popular for remodeling. Popcorn ceilings are not "in style" anymore for homes and so they are one of the first things that a home will have ripped out of it. This, if done improperly or without checking for asbestos first, can cause huge health hazards and expose everyone to asbestos.

At one time asbestos served as a useful, heat retardant product, made of fibrous materials gathered from mines throughout the world.

Its fibers were strong and flexible were woven easily together. This product was used broadly in the building and manufacturing industries. Some of its common uses were in duct and pipe work, brake and clutch linings, cements and some vinyl floor tiles.

Unfortunately, many of the workers in this industries began to develop health problems that were ultimately determined to be associated to their asbestos exposure. Some asbestos-related illnesses do not give off visible symptoms until many years later, even decades after the early being exposed. However, some people exhibit severe ailments within a few months of exposure from asbestos.

The length of exposure to asbestos also correlates to the seriousness of the illness. People who had long-term asbestos exposure are much more likely to experience more pronounced forms of the disease rather than those individuals whose exposure from the fiber lasted for only a few months.

Asbestos can contribute to a variety of illnesses from bronchitis to emphysema. However, there are three diseases for which it can be a primary instigator and all are potentially terminal.

* Asbestosis - chronic progressive disease that requires long-term exposure to asbestos fibers. Once asbestos is inhaled, fibers penetrate the breathing passages and fill, inflame, irritate and scar the lung tissues that cause this disease.

* Mesothelioma - asbestos can develop this life-threatening disease that affects the abdomen, chest and areas around the heart. This is more of a concern for industrial or construction workers, often affecting more men than women generally.

* Lung Cancer - exposure from asbestos increases the risk of having lung cancer by nine times than that of cigarette smoking. A combination of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking raises the risk to as much as 50 times higher.

Asbestos is well documented by the medical community and even court decisions as a contributing toxin to more than a few health problems and thousands of people have been compensated for contributory asbestos damage.

So if you or your family member have been subjected to asbestos exposure and are noticing any of the early signs or symptoms, please consult your physician or healthcare provider for further testing and diagnosis.

The choice of the law firm to handle your mesothelioma lawsuit is a very important choice to make. You must choose a law firm that will suit your needs. You must bear in mind that mesothelioma lawsuits tend to drag over a long time and they can be very expensive.

The road to justice in most of these lawsuits is often not very smooth and getting your desired justice might not be that easy.

The law firm you hire must be able to deliver the main goal of the lawsuit which is to win the case for you. The firm you choose will determine whether or not you will get the compensation you deserve, so you will have to choose very well. The better your choice, the better your chances of winning the case. Your law firm must be able to get you the justice you desire, be sure to explore all the options before you, do not rush into signing a contract with just any one.

-A good law firm will not make the lawsuit a cumbersome and expensive task.

-When trying to hire a mesothelioma law firm you will be faced with two options, either you hire a big or a small law firm.

-The big law firm usually have longstanding experience in mesothelioma lawsuits, they would have been involved in many asbestos exposure related lawsuits. Most of the cases they take up against asbestos related industries have been on behalf of groups, so they might end up sidelining small individual cases like yours.

When these big law firms handle your case, your chances of getting individual attention is poor.

The amount of likely mesothelioma settlements in small cases like yours might not encourage the big law firms. Also the mass settlements these big law firms usually get from the asbestos industries will not benefit you very much.

To get the complete information on mesothelioma law firms you can visit our website.

The growth of this deadly cancer is mainly attributed to asbestos exposure. Because of this mapping to the disease, it is easy to identify target groups that experience a higher than normal incidence of mesothelioma. It is often times identified with industrial businesses of western countries. These types of industrial manufacturing processes over the years have exposed more people to the dangers of asbestos exposure.

While numerous industries uses asbestos in their products, some made it more common to use rather than others, putting workers in those fields at higher risk for a rising problem.

Workers that are characteristically vulnerable and at a higher risk for contracting this cancer include:

* Shipbuilders
* Insulators
* Construction workers
* Auto mechanics
* Power plant Workers
* Steamfitters
* Pipefitters and plumbers
* Electricians

Even non-business incidences can manifest themselves due to so-called "secondary exposure".

These are the people who develop the disease due to exposure to the asbestos fiber that is brought home on the clothes and skin of family members who have been working in proximity to the asbestos. Incidence among family members of asbestos workers is becoming more common and as such, has become a source for concern.

Diagnosing mesothelioma can often times be difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other medical conditions.

Analysis begins with an evaluation of the patient's medical history, and record of asbestos exposure that may increase suspicion for this diagnosis.

Currently there is no cure for Mesothelioma. Treatments will be much determined by the stage of the cancer and options will be discussed and determined by your physician.

Because of the demographics of the exposure to asbestos in industrial areas men are more prone to this type of disease. However, fatalities may even occur from related impediments, such as heart problems, lung failures, and even stroke.

Like any serious illness, early detection of this disease provides the best possible chance at prolonging the quality of life for someone afflicted.

If you, or anybody you know who are experiencing the symptoms of mesothelioma, a proactive and early check up is an absolute must.

Mesothelioma is a new form of cancer induced by asbestos in lungs, heart and abdomen. Anyhow if anybody inhales the particles of asbestos, they stick to the external lining of internal organs and induce cancer there. This is very complicated form of cancer because it reaches to advanced stage until the patient comes to know about his illness. Therefore, it has very less survival rate. Studies on mesothelioma survival rate have shown that only one person survive out of ten after diagnosed with the disease till three years and only one person survive till five years out of twenty after diagnosed with this new form of cancer.

Symptoms of this cancer do not appear till 40 to 45 years after being infected with asbestos and therefore, the average age of the people diagnosed with this disease is 61 years. The major problem with the diagnosis of mesothelioma is that, its symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases and therefore, it takes long to declare a person suffering with this life threatening disease. This all leads it to less survival rate. This is called life threatening because still no permanent cure could be found for it. There are some treatments but, they just can extend the life of the patient.

Some factors on which survival rate of mesothelioma is based on are- the size of the tumor, stage in which the patient is, the quantity of fluid in the abdomen and chest, duration it took to diagnose the disease, and whether the tumor can surgically be removed completely or not. Still the studies are being performed on this disease and a permanent treatment to increase the survival rate of the patients.

The treatments known to this disease are very expensive but they can be made affordable by asking for compensation money. For that a lawyer, good at pleading for mesothelioma is to be found. Lawyer helps to get more and more amount as compensation money. Therefore, after coming to know about disease not only a doctor but also a lawyer should be contacted to get the amount and compensation you deserve.

In this article, we will see the procedures for the treatment of a person if he or she was diagnosed as suffering from mesothelioma lung.

The doctor is usually in the lungs, with a specific cavity thoracoscopy. A cut in the chest and the device is in the breast between the two coasts. This procedure is considered Thorakoskopie. Local anesthesia is, in this patient. There is

usually quite experienced, but some significant pressure by the patient.

If the doctor finds abnormal growth of tissue, then the doctor cut a few pieces of fabric. These are then observed under a microscope to see the growth of cancer cells as possible. This process is called a biopsy. Biopsy in all forms of cancer, not the lungs of mesothelioma.

The treatment of lung disease can take three forms.

The first mode of treatment is the operation. This is the main treatment method. The doctor in the town of coating the lungs and surrounding tissue. Lung itself may also be deleted - this process is known as Pneumonektomie. Sometimes, part of the membrane of a muscle under the lungs, can also be removed.

The second is the treatment by radiation. This treatment uses x-rays of high energy to destroy cancer cells. The radiation source can be internal or external. If the radiation from a machine, if it is known as external radiotherapy. If Radioisotopes produce radiation are thin plastic tubes in the lungs, then it is also the internal radiation therapy.

While some fluid in the lungs, the breathing process, the doctor may decide to drain the fluid with a needle to stir in the chest. Suction can then be used for the liquid. The process of removing fluid from the chest is known as thoracentesis. The doctor may take a drug pipe in the lung to prevent further accumulation of fluids.

The picture of lung disease is that of no hope. Lung cancer affects millions of Americans and others around the world. Understanding the symptoms, treatments, causes such as smoking, and signs will help to increase awareness of this debilitating lung disease. This section of the website is devoted to helping to promote awareness of this disease.

Just what is Lung cancer? It's a condition in which cancerous cells grow uncontrollably and reproduce cause devastating effects on the lungs. Healthy cells are replaced by abnormal cells that turn into tumors that destroy the lungs.

There are tow main types of lung disease. They are non-small cell which current accounts for 80% of diagnosed cases, and small cell making up the remaining 20%. Lung cancer usually always starts in just one lung. If left untreated, it can spread to other vital organs of the body as well such as the lymph nodes, the brain, bones, and liver just to name a few.

Although over eighty percent of patients develop lung disease due to smoking, this is not the all-inclusive cause. Studies have shown that many environmental factors influence the probability of contracting lung cancer. Such factors include environmental pollution, toxic gas emissions, and exposure to carcinogens such as in asbestos and other toxic inhalants.

Small cell is most often caused by smoking tobacco. The early symptoms and signs of this form of lung disease may show up as persistent coughing that gradually increases over time, sputum changes in color and quantity, excessive wheezing, loss of appetite and chronic fatigue. Other related symptoms could include rapid weight loss, unexplained back pain, and swelling in the face and neck.

Like all cancers, early detection is the key to increasing the survival rate. Doctors may use a variety of tests to diagnose cancer cells in the lungs. These include a physical examination accompanied with advanced image scanning of the chest and lungs.

The following tests may be used to diagnose lung cancer: CT scans (takes 2 dimensional x-ray pictures of the lungs), chest x-rays of the lung cavity, MRI or magnetic Resonance Imaging, PET scan or Positron Emission Tomography which uses cellular reactivity to sugar, and a biopsy which is removing part of the tissue for further microscopic examination.

Other no so intrusive tests may incorporate the use of a bronchoscop where the physician is able see the lungs and surrounding areas through a small hollow tube that magnifies the images, and sputum cytology - where a sample phlegm is taken and analyzed with a high powered microscope for abnormal cell growth and tissue.

Doctors have a variety of methods in lung caner treatment. They include the use of various conventional medical practices such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiological therapy. Once a diagnosis of confirmed, only then will your doctor design a treatment plan that will be most effective. This all depends on your current health, how advanced the cancer is, and on whether the cancer has mastasized.

The way to protect yourself is to increase your awareness by visiting information sites that contain pictures, photos, and new articles about this disease. Prevention is the key, and if you are beyond that, then early detection holds the greatest chance of your survival rate. Your may want to look into alternative treatments as well which will be available from this site with promising results.

There are three main modes of treating mesothelioma, these are; Chemotherapy, Surgery and Radiotherapy. Surgical procedures used in treatment of the disease are of three types;-Diagnostic Procedures, Palliative Procedures, Potentially Curative Procedures

Diagnostic Procedures

Diagnostic surgery is a necessary step in confirming and staging mesothelioma.

Thoracoscopy enables a physician to examine the pleural space and to take multiple tissue biopsies under direct vision. In up to 98% of cases, a definitive diagnosis can be obtained. Often, chemical pleurodesis aimed at reducing the accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural space, can be accomplished during the same procedure. It is also possible to gauge the extent of the tumor, and to see the possibility of removing the tumor surgically. While less invasive than an open biopsy, it can only be performed on patients where tumor has not completely blocked the pleural space.

VATS, or video-assisted thoracic surgery is an alternative to thoracoscopy, although because of its more invasive nature, it could lead to seeding of the tumor {dislodgement of fragments of the tumor by contact}. By using small incisions on the skin, the surgeon can view the pleural space with the assistance of a camera, and obtain sufficient tissue samples for analysis by a pathologist. Extent of the tumor (i.e., pleural involvement, chest wall invasion) may also determined, and recommendation as to the type of debulking {shrinking} procedure necessary can be made at this time.

Mediastinoscopy is sometimes used as an aid in staging extent of disease when enlarged nodes are seen using imaging techniques.

Laproscopy is used in mesothelioma patients in cases where imaging techniques suggest possible invasion of the tumor through the diaphragm. This information can be important in evaluating a patient for potential pleurectomy{complete removal of pleura on one side} or extrapleural pneumonectomy{complete removal of one lung}.

Palliative Procedures
Palliative surgical procedures are those which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma, without aggressively treating the disease itself.

Chest Tube Drainage and Pleurodesis is considered the most common of palliative treatments. Fluid build-up, or pleural effusion, is most often the first symptom which will prompt mesothelioma patients to seek medical attention. Once this effusion has occurred, it is many times persistent, returning rapidly after initial thoracentesis (draining of the fluid). In order to eliminate this problem, the pleural space must be closed. This is accomplished by use of a talc slurry or other sclerosing agent which produces an adhesion that causes the layers of the pleura to stick together thus closing the pleura space.

Thoracoscopy and Pleurodesis is done in conjunction with VATS using a powdered form of talc versus talc slurry. Both this and chest tube drainage and pleurodesis will be only effective if there is no tumor encasing the lung which restricts its expansion.

Pleurectomy, used as a palliative procedure, may be performed where more extensive surgery is not an option. In these cases, it is understood that all visible or gross tumor will not be removed. It is considered the most effective means of controlling pleural effusion in cases where the lung's expansion is restricted by disease.

Potentially Curative Procedures
These procedures are performed with "curative intent". Their goal is removal of all gross disease, with the knowledge that microscopic disease will most likely remain. Adjuvant therapy (another form of treatment in addition to the primary therapy) in form of chemotherapy and or radiotherapy is given to eliminate any residual disease.

For Pleural Mesothelioma:
-Pleurectomy/Decortication is usually performed on patients with early stage disease (Stage I and selected Stage II), and attempts to remove all gross tumor. If it is found that all tumor can not be removed without removing the lung, this may be done at the same time and is called pneumonectomy.

-Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is considerably more radical than other surgical approaches, and should be carried out by surgeons with great expertise in evaluating patients and performing the procedure itself.

For Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
• Cytoreductive Surgery is aimed at removing all or nearly the entire gross or visible tumor in the peritoneal cavity. In order to treat any remaining cancer cells, Intra-Peritoneal Hyperthermic (heated) Chemotherapy (IPHC) is then delivered to the abdominal cavity. The type of chemotherapy drug used may vary according to the physician's preference.

Surgery is usually combined with other types of treatments to achieve maximal result during treatment.
Patients should also educate themselves about mesothelioma and treatment options and reach out to available resources to make coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis easier.

Chemotherapy Schedules

How often you will receive chemotherapy will be determined by your doctor, taking into consideration factors such as the stage of your cancer, the types of drugs you receive, the anticipated toxicities of the drugs and the time necessary for your body to recover from these toxicities. The doctor may also consider whether the goal of the chemotherapy is to control the growth of the cancer, or to ease symptoms associated with the disease.

In general, chemotherapy treatment is administered in "cycles" - a "cycle" being defined as a period of treatment followed by a period of rest. This cycle allows the cancer cells to be attacked by the drugs, and then allows the body's normal cells time to recover. The combination of drugs used, the length of time to administer the drugs, how often they should be repeated and the number of cycles recommended have been analyzed very well in clinical trials.

For mesothelioma patients, the "standard" treatment is a combination of Alimta and cisplatin, administered IV, with a 10 minute infusion of Alimta followed by two hours of cisplatin, given in 21 day cycles. Modifications to this schedule may be made according to what your doctor feels is appropriate in your particular case.

The number of treatment cycles, or the length of time between the beginning and end of chemotherapy may vary, however in general, 3 to 4 cycles of treatment are given before response is evaluated; 2 to 3 cycles are considered a minimum to assess for effectiveness. After response to the treatment has been determined, the following criteria will be used to decide whether chemotherapy should continue:

• If there is shrinkage of the tumor, or the disease is kept stable, chemotherapy may be continued for as long as it can be tolerated and there is no disease progression.

• If there is continued disease progression, chemotherapy will be stopped, and the patient will be given alternative options.
The goal of setting a chemotherapy schedule is to make treatment as effective, timely and trouble-free as possible, but while the drugs are working to kill cancer cells, they may also affect healthy cells causing side effects.

Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy Includes:
-Fever of, or greater than 101 degrees
-Nausea
-Diarrhea or constipation
-Fatigue
-Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes
-Ringing in the ears
-Bruises or rashes
-Sores in the mouth or throat
-Reduced white blood cell count {neutropenia} making you more prone to infections. For this reason your full blood count should be monitored closely.

Be sure you report all over-the-counter and prescribed medicines to your physician. Don't take aspirin unless it has been approved by your physician. Ask your pharmacist if aspirin is part of the drugs you want to purchase.

Stay away from people who have colds or the flu. Chemotherapy can compromise your immune system and lower your resistance to germs.

It is normal to feel sad, angry or afraid, however, letting these emotions get out of control can affect negatively your overall well-being. Look out for the help of family, friends, your doctor, a counselor or a support group.

Chemotherapy treatment should be a cooperative effort between you and your doctor. The interaction that takes place is important to your health. It will not only help you feel better, but will also address any potential problems with improper communication.

Patients should educate themselves about mesothelioma and treatment options and reach out to available resources to make coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis easier.

Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for about half of all pericardial tumors and is extremely rare. This cancer accounts for about 6% of all mesothelioma cases, these tumors are typically diffused and tend to cover the whole heart.

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium which is the membrane made up of mesothelial cells that surrounds and protects the heart. This membrane has two layers:
A} an outer layer called parietal pericardium
B} an inner layer called the visceral pericardium {epicardium}

Cause

Unlike in the case of pleural mesothelioma, there is no clear link between this cancer and exposure to asbestos fibers, but a number of patients with pericardial mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos.

Some schools of thought believe that it is the inhaled asbestos fibers in the lungs that travel via blood from the lungs to the heart, although this theory is not supported by conclusive evidence.

When asbestos fibers get lodged in the pericardium, the body is unable to excrete the asbestos fibers and they remain stuck in the pericardium. These fibers over a long period of time cause the pericardial cells to undergo changes that result into cancerous transformation.

The cancer cells divide without control and they eventually lead to the thickening of the pericardial membranes eventually causing development of the tumors. These changes lead to the accumulation of fluids in between the two layers which combined with the thickening of these layers result in the compression of the heart.

Symptoms

Most of the symptoms are caused by the accumulation of fluids and the thickening of the pericardial layer. The common symptoms are:
A) Heart palpitations or irregular pulse (arrhythmias)
B) Chest pain
C) Murmurs (abnormal heart sounds)
D) Cough
E) Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)
F) Fatigue
H) Fever or night sweats
I) Orthopnoea (breathlessness on lying down)

These symptoms are not specific for the cancer, making the clinical diagnosis very difficult.

Diagnosis

After getting a clinical diagnosis a series of tests can be done to locate the cancer and identify the cancer cells.

-MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This is useful in assessing and determining the extent of development of the cancer.

-Biopsy

This involves the removal of pericardium tissue or fluid for laboratory test to confirm the presence of mesothelioma cells.

-Chest x-ray

This helps to identify the tumor, there is a characteristic shape of the heart on the x-ray film when there is a tumor of the pericardium.

-Chest CT scan

This also helps to identify the tumor.

Treatment

Pericardial mesothelioma patients are not usually suitable for surgery, except in rare cases where the cancer is diagnosed very early and surgery may be done to remove small localized tumors.

This type of surgery is very risky because of the proximity of the heart.

Palliative treatment is often the only option for treating pericardial mesothelioma, this type of treatment is aimed at improving the patient's quality of life and reducing the severity of symptoms caused by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardium.

Fine needle aspiration may be done to drain the accumulated fluid surrounding the heart. Radiotherapy could also be used to shrink the tumor to alleviate the symptoms caused by the compression of the heart by the accumulating fluid. The proximity of the heart and lungs however makes this a very risky procedure.

Prognosis

The prognosis of this type of mesothelioma is very poor, about 50 -60% of all cases die within 6 months of diagnosis. Occasionally few patients survive for longer periods following treatment with partial surgical resection and radiotherapy.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the epithelium that lines the lungs, the abdomen, or the heart. Pericardial Mesothelioma is the cancer of the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium, hence the name pericardial mesothelioma.

This rare form of mesothelioma accounts for small percentage of all cases, roughly 5%. The pericardium has an extremely important role as it protects the heart from any damage. Should an individual become afflicted with this cancer, they should take it very seriously and seek specialized medical attention. If left untreated during the early stages of diagnosis, it can become a terminal illness with a very low survival rate.

As with all forms of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma is caused by inhaling asbestos. Those who are most at risk are construction workers and asbestos manufacturers. The wearing of a protective mask can help to minimize the inhalation of asbestos dust in to the lungs (since the asbestos fibres get lodged in the lungs). If you have noticed, the majority of workers aren't properly protected when working on construction sites - even in industrialized nations such as the United States. One would expect to see otherwise, thinking that companies follow OSHA directives. That isn't the case all the time.

During the middle of the 20th century (roughly between 1950-1970) asbestos was one of the most popular building materials, and scores of young men were exposed to it. Now, in the 21st century (some 50 years later - the latency period of pericardial mesothelioma), these young men who are now over 60 years of age are beginning to exhibit the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. As a result, multi-million dollar lawsuits are being filed against the companies that employed them.

The problem with pericardial mesothelioma is that its symptoms only start appearing in the cancer's latest stages, making it even more difficult to treat. The main symptoms are shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pains and a persistent cough. Other symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include nausea, weight loss and loss of appetite. Another problem with these symptoms is that they are similar to those of pneumonia (shortness of breath), and this tends to lead to the wrong treatment being administered to an individual afflicted with pericardial mesothelioma.

Treatment options for pericardial mesothelioma include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and dual therapy. The survival rate is extremely low, and it is important to stress that one's chances of healing are increased should treatment commence in the early stages of diagnosis.