Common Questions About Mesothelioma
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily.
The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in approximately 80 percent of all cases of mesothelioma. The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly
increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways
in the lung.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. When tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. An increased risk of developing mesothelioma was found among shipyard workers, producers of asbestos products, construction industries, and other tradespeople.
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma, which removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the state (or extent) of the disease.
How is mesothelioma treated?
Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cncer cells and shrink tumors. Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.
To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis.
Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?
Yes. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials.
People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1-800-4-CANCER. The clinical trials page on the NCI's cancer website provides general information about clinical trials and links to their cancer information database PDQ.
