mesothelioma pericardial
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the epithelium that lines the lungs, abdomen or heart. Pericardial mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium, hence the name of pericardial mesothelioma.
This rare form of mesothelioma accounts for small percentage of all cases, approximately 5%. The pericardium has an extrememly important role as it protects the heart from damage. In case of an individual to be affected by this cancer, need to be careful seriously and seek specialized medical care. If left untreated during the early stages of diagnosis, it can become a terminal illness, with a survival rate very low.
As with all forms of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma is caused by inhaling asbestos. Those who are most at risk are workers construction and asbestos manufacturers. Wearing a protective mask can help minimize the inhalation of asbestos dust in the lungs (since the fibers asbestos are stuck in the lungs). If you've noticed, most workers are not adequately protected when working on construction sites – even in industrialized countries like the United States. One would expect otherwise, considering that companies follow OSHA directives. That is not the case all the time.
A mid-20th century (approximately 1950-1970) asbestos was one of the most popular building materials, and dozens of youth were exposed to it. Now, in the 21st century (some 50 years later – the latency period of mesothelioma effusion), these young people who are now more than 60 years of age are beginning to show the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. As a result, the demands of several million dollars are being filed against companies that employ them.
The problem with pericardial mesothelioma is that symptoms begin to appear only in the later stages of cancer, making it even more difficult to treat. The main symptoms are shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain and persistent cough. Other symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include nausea, loss weight and loss of appetite. Another problem is that these symptoms are similar to those of pneumonia (shortness of breath), and this tends to lead to wrong treatment that administered to a person affected with pericardial mesothelioma.
Treatment options for pericardial mesothelioma include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and dual therapy. The survival rate is very low, and it is important to emphasize that one potential increase healing must begin treatment within the first stages of diagnosis.
About the Author:
Having been a contributing author on the subject of
pericardial mesothelioma, Nkeno Kapya is our suggested
resource on the topic. You can visit his website for more
info. http://www.pericardialmesothelioma.info
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Pericardial Mesothelioma: a Concise Definition
Forms of Mesothelioma – Pleural, Peritoneal, and Pericardial
