Causes of Malignant Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cancer is one of the daunting, serious, and deadly health problems. This disease may take awful stages that can lead more seriously to death.

Malignant Mesothelioma is the term given to a severe asbestos cancer. It is the forming of tumor - a malignant (cancer) cell in the mesothelium that invades the affected tissue and can possibly spread throughout some body parts.

Our bodies have a special cell called mesothelial. This cell is covered or protected by a tissue called "mesothelium". The purpose of mesothelium is to produce a special fluid that serves as lubricant.

It helps those internal organs to function normally. The mesothelium of our internal organs has different names in order to specify it easier.

Different Names of Mesothelium:

Pleura- is the mesothelium of the chest and covers the lungs
Peritoneum- the mesothelium of abdomen
Pericardium- the mesothelium of heart

Malignant mesothelioma can probably occur in this mesothelium and if it gets worst it can lead to pleural mesotheliomas (cancer of the lungs), peritoneal mesotheliomas (cancer of the abdomen) and pericardial mesotheliomas (cancer of the heart).

Mesothelioma cancer that runs on families changes the way they live. Life for them could be so tough and pain would linger in every single moment they have.

This is more than the loss of their money and the suffering of their family when one is subjected to mesothelioma cancer.

Major Cause of Malignant Mesothelioma

The major cause of malignant mesothelioma is the exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a fibrous magnesium and calcium silicate.

A person who is expose in asbestos may inhale this tiny substance that may lead to cancer. The effect of asbestos in the human body may take long time to develop that's why mesothelioma cancer is also termed as a deceiving disease.

A person whose work accompanied by greater exposure to asbestos will have a higher risk to have a mesothelioma cancer. There is a possibility that their family may also develop this disease.

Family members who work with asbestos can bring this tiny substance in their home. Through the clothes they wear that may inhale of other.

Jobs with High Risk of Asbestos Exposure

1. A person who is working in an industry such as (residential or commercial construction)

2. Insulator

3. Ship building

4. Railroad

5. Miners

6. Automobile Industry

7. Textile worker

8. Asbestos factory worker

3 Types of Malignant Mesothelioma

1. Epithelioid- the most common type of malignant mesothelioma. Almost 50% of the average cases have survived this type. This is the term given because of the epithelial cells that contours the cavities and other structures all throughout the body.

2. Sarcomatoid - less percentage of survival and less common. In this type, the tumor is highly malignant. The sarcomatoid cells emerge as uneven spindle-shaped cells, which are lengthened and commonly overlie one another.

3. Mixed/biphasic- Less percentage of survival. This type of malignant mesothelioma is composed of both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. The cancer cell affects various parts of the body.

The cells are arranged in a group inside the tumor. (Note: the following types of malignant mesothelioma are dependent upon the structure of the cancer cells)

Stages of Malignant Mesothelioma

1. Localized malignant mesothelioma (consist of stage 1)- the malignant cell are found in the lining of lung, lining of diaphragm, lining of chest wall.

2. Advance malignant mesothelioma (consist of stage II, III, IV)

- Stage II- the malignant cell found in lining of chest wall and may have a lymph node in the same area.

- Stage III- the malignant cell spread in different area of body. In chest wall, diaphragm, peritoneum and mediastinum. Forming of lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or even outside of the chest is possible.

- Stage IV- the malignant cell is totally spread in different organs and tissues of the body. In this stage a person has a little percent to survive.

Malignant mesothelioma is believed to be responsible for more than 200,000 deaths worldwide, with 2,000 to 3,000 new cases being diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

Exposure to airborne asbestos particles increases one's risk of developing malignant mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma has an extremely long latency period that can take anywhere between 20 to 50 years from the initial exposure to the diagnosis of the disease.

Malignant mesothelioma can also affect the reproductive organs, the heart, and other major organs.

Causes of Malignant Mesothelioma

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