Mesothelioma

Epithelium is a tissue that lining the surface and body cavities, mucous membranes of internal organs,respiratory system, food tract, urogenital pathways, and also forms the major part of the glands of our body. Epithelium is divided into different species by origin, structure, functions.

One of the types of epithelium is the mesothelium. It lays serous membranes, ie, peritoneum, pulmonary pleura, pericardium (pericardial bag), etc. Accordingly, Mesothelioma is a tumor that grows from mesothelial tissue and affects the serous membranes. Mesothelioma can be benign and malignant (the latter is more common).

Mesothelioma is a rapidly growing aggressive tumor, which early gives metastases, treatment is quite difficult, especially if the diagnosis was made late. The average survival rate of patients is 1-2 years.

Most common mesothelioma of the pulmonary pleura and peritoneum, less often - testicles, joints, pericardium. Among risk factors that increase the risk of mesothelioma, you can call prolonged contact with asbestos, especially when combined with smoking. This tumor can sometimes be asymptomatic, but even if there are symptoms, at an early stage they can not be called specific, so mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose. Often it is detected at a late stage, hence the low survival rate of mesothelioma patients.

Mesothelioma of the pleura usually manifested in pains in the lower cheston the back or lateral surface, dyspnea, hoarseness, hemoptysis, edema of the face and upper limbs, in some cases there may be difficulty swallowing, coughing, weight loss, weakness, sweating, fever (subfebrile but constant). One of the most common symptoms is pleurisy (fluid in the pleural cavity).

Mesothelioma of peritoneum usually has the following symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal enlargement. Some patients have ascites, a fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity. Usually this type of tumor occurs in men over 50 years of age.

There are several methods of treating malignant mesothelioma. If the patient is in a satisfactory condition, and the tumor is localized, it is possible radical surgery, i.e., complete removal of the tumor. If the patient's condition is severe, and the tumor is extensive, they can perform palliative surgery - an operation aimed at eliminating or reducing the discomfort caused by tumor growth.

However, as we have already said, quite often mesotheliomais diagnosed at a late stage, when serious surgical intervention can not be made because of the patient's serious condition. In such cases, they can use radiotherapy as the main method of treatment. Also, after non-radical operations, an auxiliary radiation therapy may be prescribed in order to destroy the remaining tumor cells. And for the treatment of symptoms caused by tumor growth (dyspnea, difficulty swallowing, pain, bleeding), palliative irradiation is used.

Another method of treatment of mesothelioma - chemotherapy, and drugs can not only be injectedintravenously, but also into the pleural or abdominal cavity (depending on what kind of tumor it is - pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma). Chemotherapy can be both a primary and an auxiliary method of treating a tumor (depending on the stage at which mesothelioma is located), but it should be remembered that this method of therapy gives only a temporary effect and is used as a palliative agent.

Despite the fact that mesothelioma is a rare type of tumor, this is not a reason to neglect your state of health. Do not ignore any anxious symptoms, it is better to be safe than loseprecious time. There have been cases when the symptoms of mesothelioma were taken for chronic bronchitis or a "smoker's cough," and when a correct diagnosis was made, it was too late. And if you are at risk (contact with asbestos or its production), do not forget about regular preventive examinations with a doctor.