Pericardial Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that is found in the lining of the heart. Doctors agree that it is exposure to asbestos that causes Pericardial Mesothelioma. Those who suffer from it tend to have been involved in the building and construction industry at some point in their lives as asbestos was used in great quantities up until a few years ago. Today the use of asbestos is banned as experts now realise the damaging effects that it can have on people who are exposed to it. Unfortunately however this does not help the thousands of people who used asbestos on a daily basis for much of their adult working lives. As Pericardial Mesothelioma is so rare, it is thought to be responsible for just 10% of all the cases of diagnosed mesothelioma each year.

Although it is recognised that it is exposure to asbestos that causes Pericardial Mesothelioma it is unknown as to exactly how the fibres of asbestos get into the pericardial lining. It is assumed by many doctors that when the microscopic fibres of asbestos are inhaled they go into the bloodstream and are absorbed. When this contaminated blood reaches the heart some of the fibres will adhere to the lining and remain there causing Pericardial Mesothelioma over time. As it can take time for this to happen and so it can take years and years before a person even realises that they have something wrong with them and often by this time it is too late. Statistics show that a great number of people will live with these kind of symptoms for an average of six months before they will seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma are problems with breathing which include being short of breath. Chest pains are also another sign of Pericardial Mesothelioma although this can be a symptom of other illnesses so further diagnostic testing has to be performed. These tests will usually take the form of biopsies of internal tissue and comprehensive scans of the patient’s body. From this an accurate diagnosis can be made as to whether a patient has Pericardial Mesothelioma or not.

As all the types of mesotheliona are so severe the outcome for a person who has Pericardial Mesothelioma is not good. Surgery is a no go area as this can significantly damage the area surrounding the tumour and cause even more problems. Instead it is important to attempt to maintain the quality of life for the patient and help them to be as comfortable as possible. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy programs can be used on some patients who have had an early diagnosis but this will not eliminate Pericardial Mesothelioma it will merely extend the life of a sufferer. In short Pericardial Mesothelioma is a deadly disease that results in fatalities and it is directly linked to exposure to asbestos in earlier life. Even with a prompt and accurate diagnosis, because of the nature of the disease, a patient will never recover from it.

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Mesothelioma, or the cancer of mesothelium, is a fatal tumor that affects pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium – linings around lungs, abdomen, and heart respectively. It is a fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral.

Mesothelioma cancer be benign, i.e. it can be non-cancerous and non-spreading or it can be malignant i.e. cancerous and spread to other parts of the body leading to death. Its primary cause is prolonged exposure to asbestos and it has a latency period of about 30 to 50 years.

Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma can be classified into three types depending on the area of body affected by it. There are 3 common types of mesothelioma:

1. Pleural Mesothelioma

2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma

3. Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

The most common form of mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of pleura) is a tumor of the protective lining around the lungs. It can be either benign or malignant.

The pleura is a sac-like membrane made of two layers between which the pleural fluid is released. This fluid in turn acts like a lubricating agent and helps the lungs to function smoothly during breathing.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma are:

* Shortness of breath

* Chest pain

* Back pain

* Pain in the rib cage

Other symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma, for both benign and cancerous forms, include:

* Fluid build-up in the lung lining

* Hoarseness

* Coughing up blood

* Swelling of the face and arms

* Muscle weakness

* Paralysis

* Sensory loss

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Another common form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the peritoneum that causes tumor in the abdominal lining. Like pleural it can be benign or malignant.

The peritoneum is the membrane that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity and also includes:

* Tunica Vaginalis Testis (mesothelial tissue lining the male internal reproductive organs)

* Tunica Serosa Uteri (mesothelial tissue lining the female reproductive organs)

Symptoms

The fluid released in the peritoneum helps in the smooth functioning of these organs. When the peritoneum is affected, some common symptoms experienced are:

* Stomach pain

* Weight loss

* Nausea

* Vomiting

* Hernia

* Bowel obstruction

* Fluid in the abdominal cavity

If the cancer spreads beyond the abdominal cavity, additional symptoms can be found, such as:

* Anemia

* Blood clotting abnormalities

* Trouble swallowing

* Swelling of neck, face or arms

Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma or the cancer of pericardium is a tumor of the protective sac-like lining around the heart.

Pericardium protects the heart by:

* Smoothening its motion against surrounding organs

* Limiting its motion so that it stays in the chest cavity

* Preventing it from over-expansion during excess influx of blood

Symptoms

When pericardium’s function is affected by mesothelioma, the following symptoms may occur:

* Chest pain

* Shortness of breath

* Fluid accumulation in the lining

If the mesothelioma cancer spreads to other organs of the body, it can affect their normal functioning and cause painful symptoms. Thus, it is important that mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed on time and proper treatment is given to save the patient’s life.

Dr. Case describes the symptoms of mesothelioma that lead to a diagnosis, the types of procedures that are used, and what a patient can expect. This video series is sponsored by a site that offers a free DVD with all the segments. There is a distrubing image of a lung with mesothelioma.

Mary Hesdorffer, a nurse pracitioner and Medical Liaison for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, describes pleural mesothelioma symptoms in detail, which can include coughing, pneumonia and night sweats.