5 essential things to know about mesothelioma cancer

A rare and aggressive form of cancer, mesothelioma cancer affects the mesothelium. This is the membrane that lines the insides of internal organs in the body such as the heart, abdomen, and lungs. Caused by exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma cancer usually starts in the chest cavity. This happens in nearly three out of four cases. In some instances, cancer can also start around the heart and the abdominal cavity.

Based on the part of the mesothelium affected, mesothelioma cancer is divided into different types. The cases in which the membrane and tissues of the lungs are affected are classified as pleural mesothelioma. The rarer types affect the heart (pericardial mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), and sometimes the testes (testicular mesothelioma).

Probable causes of mesothelioma cancer

• Exposure to asbestos
  One of the major causes of mesothelioma cancer is exposure to asbestos. This is why a majority of the mesothelioma patients are those whose jobs involve continuous and prolonged exposure to materials containing asbestos. A person in these job settings ends up inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers without realizing it.
  Made of a group of minerals with microscopic fibers, asbestos can become embedded in the mesothelium once it goes into the body. This leads to internal inflammation and causes damage to the tissues in the lungs, abdomen, and heart leading to cancerous tumors.
• Exposure to zeolites
  Chemically associated with asbestos, zeolites are usually found in minerals known as erionite. This mineral is commonly found in the soil of certain regions in Turkey. According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to zeolites and erionite has led to higher rates of mesothelioma cancer in these regions.
• SV40 virus
  According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of mesothelioma cancer may increase due to infection caused by simian virus 40 (SV40). A number of injectable polio vaccines administered between 1955 and 1963 were reportedly contaminated with the SV40 virus due to which nearly 30 million people in the country were exposed to this virus. However, studies have not produced many substantial results that associate the SV40 virus with mesothelioma cancer.
• Radiation
  Exposure to high doses of radiation to the abdomen or chest may also increase the risk of mesothelioma cancer. Additionally, mesothelioma can develop after the administration of injections of Thorotrast or thorium dioxide, a material that was used by doctors in certain chest X-rays until 1960.
• Genetics
  In some cases, genetics may also play a role in increasing the risk of mesothelioma cancer. Some people may inherit genes that make them predisposed to this type of cancer.

Symptoms
Mesothelioma cancer is rarely diagnosed in the early stages. The early signs and symptoms are often similar to those of other conditions. Also, the symptoms change as the disease progresses. However, there are certain signs and symptoms that may help in determining the type of mesothelioma cancer.

• Pleural mesothelioma: The common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include chest pain, painful coughing, shortness of breath, unusual tissue lumps under the skin on the chest, and unexplained weight loss.
• Peritoneal mesothelioma
  Commonly observed signs and symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal pain, nausea, abdominal swelling, fluid buildup, decreased appetite, fatigue, indigestion, and unexplained weight loss.
• Pericardial mesothelioma
  This type of mesothelioma can cause breathing troubles, shortness of breath, chest pains, fatigue, fever, and heart murmurs.
• Testicular mesothelioma
  One of the rarest form of mesothelioma, the most observed symptoms of testicular mesothelioma is the buildup of fluid between the mesothelium layer in the scrotum. A lump may form under the skin on either or both the testicles.

Stages
Mesothelioma cancer has four stages. These stages help doctors to classify and identify the progression and severity of the disease at the time of diagnosis.

• Stage 1
  In this stage of mesothelioma, the tumor is localized around the mesothelial membrane and has not yet spread.
• Stage 2
  Metastasis occurs at this stage. The cancer spreads to the nearby organs, such as the diaphragm.
• Stage 3
  By this stage, the cancer cells have reached the nearby tissues, organs, and lymph nodes.
• Stage 4
  This is the advanced stage of mesothelioma cancer where cancer spreads to nearby as well as distant organs, lymph nodes, and tissues.

Treatment options and life expectancy
Regardless of the type, mesothelioma cancer is not curable. Treatments and life expectancy depend on the stage of cancer.

• Stage 1
  In this stage aggressive treatments such as surgery to remove fluids and tissues, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are recommended. The average life expectancy is 21 months or longer.
• Stage 2
  Treatment options at this stage are the same as those used in the first stage. The average life expectancy is 19 months or less.
• Stage 3
  By this stage, the treatment options become limited. Treatments are recommended to alleviate the effects of symptoms and allow the patient to live as normally as possible. Life expectancy during this stage is about 16 months.
• Stage 4
  Similar to stage 3, treatment options are mostly focused on hospice care and to lower the discomfort caused by the symptoms. The average life expectancy is about a year.

Best foods to have
Although mesothelioma is not curable, there are certain ways to help manage the disease. This includes eating a balanced healthy diet. Those undergoing treatments are often recommended to eat the following foods:

• Fish rich in omega-3 fats
• Fiber-rich foods
• Spices such as turmeric, basil, mint, and rosemary
• Natural sources of Coenzyme Q
• Teas including green tea, herbal teas, and medicinal teas

This article is for information purposes only. Always consult and seek the advice of your physician/licensed healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition or medication.