Are There Different Types of Mesothelioma?
Yes. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, a protective lining inside the body.
Mesothelioma can form in multiple places, and be composed of different types of cancer cells.
Mesothelioma is a serious medical condition. But it turns out, not everyone is clear about what mesothelioma is and how it is contracted. Many are unaware that there are several different types of mesothelioma that fall under this broad category. Here’s what you need to know about the various types of mesothelioma.
What Mesothelioma is
Mesothelioma could legitimately be called mesothelium cancer. Most kinds of cancer we are familiar with, such as lung cancer, colon cancer, and other examples are self-defined because they have the word cancer used in their name. We automatically know that we are talking about cancer because of that. However, mesothelioma is similar to leukemia- also cancer, but without the placeholder “cancer” used in the name. That being said, there are types of mesothelioma that should be differentiated, even though one of the four varieties of mesothelioma is far more common than the other three.
Types of Mesothelioma Explained
What exactly is mesothelioma? To understand this type of cancer, it’s essential to first break down the term. Mesothelioma stems from the word “mesothelium,” which refers to the thin, protective tissue surrounding various organs in the body. This layer shields vital organs, including the heart, lungs, and testicles. The disease occurs when cells in the mesothelium become cancerous. Below is a closer look at how the mesothelium functions in these organs.
Pleural Mesothelioma: The most common type (75%), affecting the pleura, the lining around the lungs. It results from inhaling asbestos fibers.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma: The second most common (20%), affecting the peritoneum (abdominal lining). This can develop when asbestos fibers are swallowed or migrate from the lungs to the abdomen.
Pericardial Mesothelioma: Rare, affecting the pericardium (heart lining), with asbestos fibers reaching the heart via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Testicular Mesothelioma: Extremely rare, affecting the lining of the testes, though the mechanism of how asbestos fibers cause this is not well understood.
The mesothelium serves as a coating or protective layer in these crucial bodily organs. When these organ’s protective tissue becomes cancerous, it is referred to as mesothelioma, a cancer of the mesothelium tissue.
Symptoms Associated With Various Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma’s symptoms vary based on its location and often resemble those of other conditions, leading to late diagnoses. Symptoms generally take decades to appear after exposure.
Pleural Mesothelioma: Symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, pleural effusion (fluid buildup), and unexplained weight loss.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This type manifests as abdominal pain, swelling, nausea, loss of appetite, and bowel obstruction.
Pericardial Mesothelioma: Patients may experience heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, or fluid buildup around the heart (pericardial effusion).
Testicular Mesothelioma: Symptoms include swelling or lumps in the testes, often without pain.
How Does Someone “Get” Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a particularly difficult cancer in the history of medical research because it was previously subsumed or even mistaken for other types of cancer. The reason for this is that mesothelioma can, at least in part, mimic some of the more common symptoms associated with other diseases or cancers.
One notable example is that of lung cancer. When someone contracts lung cancer, they may have a whole range of symptoms, symptoms that are associated with non-cancerous lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Like COPD, other non-cancerous lung diseases can occur simultaneously with lung cancer, and the same is true with mesothelioma. However, pleural mesothelioma is an especially aggressive type of cancer that is difficult to treat with symptoms quickly accelerating over time.
Mesothelioma, Synonymous With Asbestos Disease?
Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, which is why the two terms are understood as directly connected; when people hear mesothelioma, they think of asbestos, and there’s a good reason for that.
Statistically speaking, virtually everyone who has mesothelioma has developed cancer from some occurrence of asbestos exposure. The kind of exposure that causes mesothelioma is also quite troubling. In many cases, mesothelioma can be attributed to only one instance of exposure.
Only One Instance of Exposure is Enough
It is a misnomer to assume that since mesothelioma is such an aggressive cancer, it must only be caused by excessive amounts of exposure, such as someone who worked directly with asbestos for months or even years at a time. However, the National Cancer Institute has concluded that the bottom line is, “there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.”
Not everyone who inhales a single fiber of asbestos will get mesothelioma, but high exposure for a short period can cause asbestos diseases like mesothelioma, even if a person was exposed at a younger age. The latency of asbestos-related diseases is such that it can take 20-50 years.
This means that the prospect of being exposed to asbestos could result in no adverse health consequences, a non-malignant disease, or a variety of cancers including mesothelioma. That fact needs to be considered for anyone (at any time) who worked in an asbestos environment, including spouses or children of those who worked in such an environment.
Is There Compensation for Mesothelioma?
While mesothelioma and certain types of asbestos-related cancers are currently incurable, there are still compensation options that exist to help victims pay for their medical treatments, enjoy the best quality of life available, and most importantly, get their affairs in order, and leave a legacy for loved ones.
Understanding Your Legal Rights if You Have Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation based on whether you qualify for current compensation programs. If you or a loved one have lived in a home or worked in an industrial environment prior to the mid-1980s, there is a high likelihood that you have been exposed to asbestos in some form.
Asbestos symptoms can take decades to appear, but if you have begun to develop any variety of asbestos-related symptoms, you will need to take appropriate steps as soon as possible. The primary first step is to undergo X-ray testing that will be reviewed by a specialized radiologist, known as a B Reader. If and when you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, there are various compensation options available depending on your situation.