Different Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is protective lining that surrounds the organs in your body. The types of mesothelioma are named for the area of the body in which the mesothelium is affected. You can have more than one type of mesothelioma at once. The type of mesothelioma you have will play a large role in how the cancer affects you.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma affecting the lining around the lungs is the most common type of mesothelioma. The lining around the lungs is called the pleura.
Laymen often confused pleural mesothelioma with lung cancer, for obvious reasons. However, there is an important difference. Lung cancer is cancer of the lung tissue itself, while mesothelioma affects the tissue surrounding the lungs. Asbestos exposure can cause both types of cancer.
Pleural mesothelioma is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The sharp, tiny fibers work their way into the pleura. There they cause inflammation. The pleural fluid thickens, and cancerous tumors form.
As pleural mesothelioma develops and progresses it constricts the movement of the lungs, making breathing more and more difficult. The tumors themselves can cause severe pain by pressing on the ribs.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdomen. The peritoneum is the protective lining that surrounds your abdominal organs.
Peritoneal mesothelioma can develop if you have ingested asbestos fibers. When the tiny fibers are in the air, they can easily make their way into your food and beverages. After the fibers are ingested they work their way out of the digestive system through the stomach lining and into the peritoneum causing:
- Inflammation
- Fluid build up
- Thickening of the peritoneum
- Cancerous tumors
All of this puts pressure on the internal organs, interfering with their ability to function and causing pain. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects digestion and breathing.
Testicular mesothelioma is a rare sub-type of peritoneal mesothelioma, affecting the lining around the scrotum.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is cancer of the protective sac around your heart, called the pericardium. It is the least common of the three main types of mesothelioma.
The pericardium lubricates your heart so it can function properly. Cancer of the pericardium interferes with this lubrication. It also causes fluid to accumulate around the heart and thickening of the pericardial tissue. The heart becomes constricted causing pain, irregular heartbeat, and difficulty breathing.
Pericardial mesothelioma is a result of inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers make their way from the lungs into the bloodstream where they travel to the pericardium.
Our mesothelioma attorneys understand that mesothelioma is a death sentence and we work hard to get full compensation for our clients and their innocent families. Serious problems like this calls for serious solutions. Please e-mail or call 1-877-LOSS-RECOVER (567-7732) today. All consultations are FREE and our lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that you pay NOTHING until your case is WON!