Tweet This Post To a Friend Click Here

Here is some basic information I picked up online on Mesothelioma, a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos, in case you need to know about this disease without doing endless Internet Searches that speak gobbly gook. In Mesothelioma, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss.

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). 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.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

* chest wall pain
* pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
* shortness of breath
* fatigue or anemia
* wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
* blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

* abdominal pain
* ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
* a mass in the abdomen
* problems with bowel function
* weight loss

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

* blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
* disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
* jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
* low blood sugar level
* pleural effusion
* pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
* severe ascites

A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.
This information was obtained under the Wikipedia Free Useage Policy. If this is in violation of anything, please let me know and this post will be revised or deleted if applicable. Please check out our large Online Discount Gift Store Click Here and our other Online Discount Stores below which helps support this politically incorrect blog. Thank you.

Gifts and Free Advice Blog Homepage

The following discount e-commerce sites are owned by the writer of this blog and purchases help support this Blog be Politically Incorrect. Click to go to each E-Commerce Store for which your transaction is fully secure.

Online Discount Gift Store featuring 2010 Gifts

New and Used Discount Software, 2009 Tax Software and Computers

Discount Allergy One Stop Store Featuring Best Air Purifiers, Hepa Vacuums, Dust Mite Protection Covers, Sinus and Hay fever Relief and Much More at lowest Discount Prices. Fast Delivery

3D Discount Store featuring 3D TV on sale, 3D Consumer Electronics discounts, 3D Video Games on sale, 3D Software and more

Discount Handbags Online featuring Discount 2010 Designer Handbags

Discount HDTV on sale, Discount Blu-Ray Players, DVDs and More

Order it Discount Millions of Bargain Discount Prices for the Consumer

New and Used Vinyl Records, CDs and Home Audio Equipment at Discount

Satellite TV Sports featuring Free Weekly Cable Sports Schedules

Discount New and Used Jewelry and Watches

If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on Digg, Reddit, Stumbleupon, Propeller, or anywhere else. This blog features free computer help and tips, TV and movie reviews, sports, health advice, employment help, gas saving advice, money saving tips, dating advice, e-commerce ideas and more.

Subscribe to Gifts and Free Advice by Email