The website TreatMesothelioma.com has quite a bit of helpful information about this terrible disease. It’s well worth a look. Here’s an excerpt from the site:
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer that is caused by a person either inhaling or ingesting tiny asbestos fibers. Once these fibers have entered the body via esophageal or tracheal pathways, they will become lodged in the protective lining that covers our internal organs. This lining is known as the mesothelium.
The mesothelium consists of two layers:
- The inner layer of the mesothelium wraps around major organs like the lungs, abdomen, and heart.
- The outer mesothelium layer forms a sac that surrounds the inner layer; mesothelioma grows in between or on these linings.
There are three types of mesothelioma a person could develop and the name is specifically associated with the location of where the tumor is found. For instance:
- Pleural Mesothelioma: Tumors develop in the pleura which is the location specific name of the mesothelium lining that surrounds the lungs.
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Tumors develop in the peritoneum which is the location specific name of the mesothelium lining that surrounds the abdomen.
- Pericardial Mesothelioma: Tumors develop in the pericardium which is the location specific name of the mesothelium lining that surrounds the heart.
