Mesothelioma is One of The Most Aggressive types of Cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer and one of the most aggressive types of cancer. As the name implies, mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the mesothelium layer.
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What is Mesothelioma?
The use of asbestos used in building construction materials, such as roofs, is very popular in Indonesia. But most people do not know that in the manufacture of these materials using a mixture of asbestos which can be harmful to health.
Asbestos is known to cause various health problems, one of which is mesothelioma cancer. This is caused by exposure to fine dust or fibers that are very easily inhaled and enter the body's organs, especially settling in the lungs.
Read This Mesothelioma Cancer is a Disease Caused by Asbestos Dust
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer and one of the most aggressive types of cancer. As the name implies, mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the mesothelium layer. The mesothelium or mesothelial layer is a layer that lines various organs of the body, including the heart, lungs, and stomach. Therefore, mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop in the walls of the lungs, stomach, or heart.
Types of Mesothelioma based on symptoms and location on the body
Mesothelioma is One of The Most Aggressive types of Cancer. As previously discussed, mesothelioma occurs in the mesothelium layer which can occur anywhere the mesothelial layer is located.
There are 4 locations that generally occur mesothelioma, namely:
#1. Pleural Mesothelioma (Lungs)
Pleural mesothelioma develops in the walls of the lungs (known as pleura) and is the most common form of mesothelioma disease. Pleural mesothelioma is quite difficult to diagnose. In the early stages of the disease, mesothelioma symptoms tend to be mild, whereas in later stages (stage 3 or stage 4) symptoms can worsen significantly. Unfortunately, due to late detection, mesothelioma usually has a poor prognosis.
#2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma (Abdomen)
Peritoneal mesothelioma originates in the lining of the stomach and often spreads to the abdominal organs, including the liver, spleen, and intestines. Severe abdominal pain is the most common symptom, followed by discomfort caused by fluid buildup (ascites).
Although the prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma is not good, in recent years the hope of cure has increased slightly. This is largely due to newer treatments such as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), although results vary from patient to patient.
#3. Pericardial Mesothelioma (Heart)
Pericardial mesothelioma, which originates from the lining of the heart cavity (pericardium) is rare. It accounts for less than 1% of all cases of mesothelioma. As this rare cancer develops, the heart cannot work properly so its function in sending oxygen throughout the body is reduced and causes various other perfusion problems.
The most common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma resemble those of a heart attack, including chest pain and shortness of breath. In many cases, pericardial mesothelioma is not diagnosed until an autopsy is performed.
#4. Testiscular Mesothelioma
Testicular mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer, less than 100 cases have been diagnosed worldwide. This type of mesothelioma attacks the protective lining of the testes. Because there are so few incidents of this type of mesothelioma, little is known about its development, and there is no standard treatment available yet.
- About Mesothelioma
- Causes of Mesothelioma
According to several studies, the main cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. But apart from exposure to asbestos, smoking has also been reported to be associated with the occurrence of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma sufferers are usually experienced by those who have worked with or exposed to asbestos.
Although smoking habits do not have a direct causal relationship with mesothelioma, smoking is one of the significant factors that increase the likelihood of mesothelioma disease. Other secondary factors that can cause mesothelioma include radiation exposure, zeolites, simian virus 40 (SV40), and erionite.
Mesothelioma is One of The Most Aggressive types of Cancer. Until now, there is no effective treatment for the symptoms and conditions of mesothelioma, where this condition also has a very poor prognosis because mesothelioma symptoms may appear for a long time, around 20-50 years.
FYI - Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of mesothelioma that often arise include:
- Cough and pain
- Fever, sweat, especially at night
- Hard to breathe
- Weight loss
- Swelling of the fingertips
- Chest pain
- A lump on the lower surface of the chest
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Lumps in the stomach area
FYI - Mesothelioma Prevention
Because mesothelioma has a poor cure hope, experts are more concerned about how mesothelioma can be detected early, because the treatment of mesothelioma in the early stages is better than the advanced stages.
In most cases, a cancer specialist will diagnose mesothelioma by testing first to see if there is another disease causing the symptoms. The doctor will ask about your history whether you have a history of previous diseases such as hypertension, tuberculosis or other diseases.
FYI - Mesothelioma diagnosis
In addition, the doctor will also find out the history of exposure to asbestos that has been felt. From this, the doctor will usually perform a series of tests, such as:
- Imaging scans (CT scan, X-ray, MRI)
- Blood test
- PET - to get a detailed picture of the tissue suspected of having cancer cells
If these initial tests show the potential for mesothelioma, a biopsy will be performed. A biopsy procedure is done by taking a sample of body tissue directly. A biopsy is the only test that can positively confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma.
FYI - Mesothelioma Treatment
Once a person has been diagnosed by a doctor as having mesothelioma, the next step is to discuss mesothelioma treatment options and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Recent scientific research has resulted in significant breakthroughs related to treatment procedures for mesothelioma patients in order to support the improvement of quality of life.
Patients with newly diagnosed mesothelioma may undergo several conventional treatment options including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Recently, chemotherapy drugs including Alimta and Cisplatin have shown promising results in some mesothelioma patients.
Read To - Symptoms of Mesothelioma are Not Specific and Can be Caused by Other Conditions
Surgery will be performed if the mesothelioma is still at an early stage. Some of the action options that are often recommended are:
Removal of cancer cells from the patient's body
Suction due to accumulation of fluid in the chest area that can interfere with breathing Removal of tissue around the abdominal cavity, ribs, or lung affected by cancer cells Removal of the affected lung organ and surrounding tissue
The cure rate for people with mesothelioma will depend on the stage of the disease, cell type, and location of occurrence. Other factors such as overall health condition and age also have an influence on the patient's survival. - Mesothelioma is One of The Most Aggressive types of Cancer