mesothelioma stomach
Pericardial Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the pericardium – the lining of tissue around the heart. It is the rarest form of mesothelioma, with less than ten percent of mesothelioma cases. Like all forms of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma has been linked to exposure to asbestos.
Many people believe mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lungs only. In fact, mesothelioma is a cancer of the serous membranes that line body cavities of three in the center of the body. Its function is the secretion of fluid to cushion and lubricate the organs within those cavities.
The pleura covering the lungs in the chest cavity, and the lubrication provided by the pleural mesothelium also aid in breathing. The peritoneal cavity contains the stomach and other organs abdominal, and is lined by the peritoneum. The pericardial cavity contains the heart and the serous membrane that protects and surrounds it is known as the pericardium.
What is pericardial mesothelioma?
Cancer is generally defined by the organ or body area in which it originated. Thus, cancer that originates in the mesothelium mesothelioma is called pericardial effusion.
No one is quite sure why pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest of the three known types, but some doctors have suggested it has to do with the way that the asbestos fibers are manifested in the body.
Because inhaled more asbestos fibers are expected that the highest percentage of cases involve the pleural mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers can make your way through the stomach and abdomen when swallowing phlegm and mucus containing asbestos fibers.
Since there is no direct route from outside the body to the pericardium, some doctors suggest that the tiny particles of asbestos literally, on his way from the lungs via the pleural mesothelium invade the pericardium.
Others theorize that the smaller fibers of asbestos are carried out of the lungs with blood and lodge in the lining of the heart as blood is pumped through the heart. In any case, once asbestos fibers stay in serous tissue surrounding the heart, which irritate the body's immune system and chronic inflammation can cause the growth of cancer tumors similar to those seen in pleural mesothelioma. The tumors can grow around the heart, constriction of movement and interfering with its operation.
The causes of The Effusion Mesothelioma
Because of the extreme rarity of this cancer, making a definitive link to any cause is difficult. There are fewer than two hundred cases of Pericardial Mesothelioma diagnosed per year, about ten percent of mesothelioma cases.
Pericardial mesothelioma appears to be strongly linked to the exposure to asbestos and other forms of mesothelioma, although the connection is more difficult to establish because of the very small number of cases diagnosed and confirmed.
The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma
As the cancerous tumors grow and spread, pericardial tissue expands and accumulates fluid around the heart. This can restrict the heart in its functioning and lead to chest pain and irregular heartbeat.
In most cases, pericardial mesothelioma is discovered only when it has advanced enough to cause these physical symptoms. Occasionally, someone with pericardial mesothelioma may complain of other heart-related symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough.
Treatment for Pericardial Mesothelioma
Because Symptoms often do not manifest themselves until the cancer has reached later stages of the disease, limited treatment options. The most common treatments recommended for this disease are surgery and radiotherapy, but the intention is palliative (to relieve symptoms) rather than remove or cure cancer.
Prognosis for patients diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma is extremely poor, since cancer is so often advanced when discovered. Often, the life expectancy after diagnosis is only a couple of months.
Your Legal Rights
Because mesothelioma is linked to exposure to asbestos, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, you may have a right to compensation for their sufferings and losses, as well as assistance with living expenses physicians.
The companies who knowingly exposed their employees and the public about the dangers of asbestos have been held accountable for their actions before the courts, and have been forced to pay millions of dollars in compensation to those who were harmed by their irresponsibility and greed.
Unfortunately, the time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms can make it difficult to prove an association with a particular product or company. An attorney who specializes in asbestos and negotiation mesothelioma often have access to resources that will help identify those who are responsible for their condition and understand the laws on claims and mesothelioma litigation.
If you are suffering due to the negligence of the asbestos industry, contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn about their legal rights to obtain compensation for their injuries.
About the Author:
Tim Dillard is a marketing executive who has worked with some of the largest law firms in America. Dillard is currently the president of Dillard Local Branding (http://www.dlbllc.com), a Houston-based web design, Internet marketing and search engine marketing firm.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Pericardial Mesothelioma – Cancer of the Heart Lining
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