Mesothelioma Support - Secondary Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma Info

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Mesothelioma asbestos is a rare, yet deadly type of cancer that attacks the body's serous membrane that serves as a protective lining and lubricant for the internal organs. There are three distinct types of mesothelioma, each affecting a different section of mesothelial tissue lining the three largest body cavities:

  1. Pleural mesothelioma affects the pleura (lung cavity) and is the most common type of the disease, accounting for an approximate 75% of all documented cases. Pleural mesothelioma's most common presenting symptom is chest pain associated with a buildup of fluid inside the pleural space. Pleural mesothelioma is often confused with asbestos lung cancer because of the close proximity of the two diseases; it can often be misdiagnosed as viral pneumonia because of certain symptomatic similarities. Pleural mesothelioma can lead to a secondary lung cancer such as asbestos lung cancer; however this would be a disease contracted in addition to pleural mesothelioma.
  2. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the peritoneum (abdominal cavity) and is the second most common type of the disease, accounting for an approximate 10 to 20% of all documented cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma is often caused as a result of asbestos microfibers being swallowed and lodging in the abdominal cavity during the digestive process.
  3. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium (heart sac) and is the least common type of the disease, accounting for less than 10% of all documented cases. Pericardial mesothelioma causes cancerous growth on the tissue surrounding the heart, and is often produced as a secondary disease resulting from pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Support

It is important that mesothelioma sufferers have a support system that can help them through the arduous process of living with the disease. From the diagnosis of mesothelioma through the process of mesothelioma treatment, it is important that a mesothelioma cancer sufferer have someone to help ease the burden. If you do not have family, mesothelioma treatment centers can also fill the void and act as the support system.

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