what is mesothelioma - Cancer growth that has been developed from the tissue that lines the surface of the chest, abdominal cavity or the heart (pericardium) There are three types of malignant mesothelioma: epithelioid have the best prognosis, sarkomatoidny and mixed types.

Most mesothelioma occurs in the thoracic cavity and are known as pleural mesothelioma. In 10-20% of tumors develop in the abdominal cavity - peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma is very rare.

Contact with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. The risk of developing mesothelioma depends on the intensity and duration of exposure to asbestos. Long-term exposure at a young age greatly increases the risk of mesothelioma. Smoking by itself does not influence the increased incidence of mesothelioma, but the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer.

Tumor for a long time may be asymptomatic and therefore often detected at a late stage, which adversely affects the prognosis of the disease. The average survival is usually only 1-2 years.

The early symptoms of mesothelioma are not specific. These patients are often ignored or mistaken for normal manifestations of non-neoplastic diseases. Most mesothelioma patients symptoms appear within 2-3 months prior to tumor detection.

A number of the patient's symptoms can last for 6 months or more. 50% of patients with pleural mesothelioma noted pain in the chest on the side or rear surface. Many patients complain of shortness of breath. In some cases there is difficulty swallowing, coughing, sweating, weakness, weight loss and fever. Almost all the effusion of fluid in the pleural cavity was observed.

Other symptoms may indicate hoarseness, coughing up blood, swelling of the face and upper extremities.

In patients with peritoneal mesothelioma can be a pain, stomach nausea, vomiting, weight loss. Some patients can receive the fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and / or swelling.