Malignant Mesothelioma
The development of malignant cancerous cells in the mesothelium, a thin membrane covering different internal body organs, leads to a rare form of cancer called malignant mesothelioma. It mainly affects the thin layer covering the lungs, called the pleura, or the thin layer covering the organs in the abdomen, called the peritoneum.
Asbestos exposure is considered a significant risk factor for this disease. Inhalation or swallowing of asbestos particles at the workplace has been a factor leading to malignant mesothelioma. However, there can be a long time gap between exposure to asbestos and the occurrence of mesothelioma. Along with this, a person can also get affected by coming in contact with someone working near asbestos or exposure to a particular virus.
Location of the tumor affects the symptoms of disease, like chest pain or shortness of breath for pleural mesothelioma or weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling for peritoneal mesothelioma. Other symptoms can be blood-clotting, fever, or anemia. Diagnosing is difficult, but tests like a biopsy, CT scans, and surgery can be carried out.
To get information about the stage of the disease, a process called staging is done. This process is essential to decide the course of treatment. Localized, advanced, and recurrent are the different stages of malignant mesothelioma.
Treatment can be done by surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Recovery chances or prognosis of malignant mesothelioma depends upon many factors. Some of them are the stage of the disease, tumor size; the possibility of complete removal of tumor post-surgery; patient’s age and health, etc.
Through continuous research and clinical trials, efforts are being made to find new and improved treatments for malignant mesothelioma and know the safety and efficiency of currently available therapies.
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