4 Types of Lung Cancer Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos

Tech4Cancer » 4 Types of Lung Cancer Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos


Lung cancer mesothelioma is caused by excess asbestos absorption in the body. It is known as rare lung cancer that affects the tissue of many organs. The types of lung cancer mesothelioma depend on where it develops. The explanation below is four types of lung cancer mesothelioma that become the highest case. 

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

Be careful if you are suffering from a cough and getting worse in a few weeks or months. It even triggers chest pain. Go to the doctor and check your condition because it can be one of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. It is the most common mesothelioma cancer that attacks lung tissues. Based on the report, there are 75% or around 2.500 up to 3.000 cases of lung mesothelioma cancer in the United States. 

The Cause of Pleural Mesothelioma 

The main cause of this cancer is asbestos. It is a mineral fiber that is often used to build houses and other products. The problem is asbestos consists of microparticles that can be stuck in the lung. Slowly but surely this material causes inflammation and scarring. Mesothelioma cancer may not grow a few weeks after you absorb the asbestos. It takes many years until asbestos triggers mesothelioma cancer in the lung. The growing time depends on genes and other factors. 

The Way to Diagnose 

Once you feel the symptoms, the doctor will suggest you take X-rays of your chest or CT scan. The purpose of this procedure is to ensure whether there is asbestos exposure on the chest. The doctor also suggests you take a PET scan. 

This scanning process is to check whether there is cancer in the chest or lung or not. If so, it also ensures the spreading of cancer. The doctor will take a small lung tissue sample known as a biopsy to check the type of cancer it is. Soon, a patient will get the result whether they are suffering from lung mesothelioma cancer or other cancer. 

The Lung Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment 

The treatment varies depending on the level of cancer. The higher the number of cancer stages, the worse the condition of the patient. In the early stages, the doctors suggest their patients take surgery. In the advanced stage, patients should take chemotherapy. The purpose of this treatment is to prevent the cancer cells spread fast. Patients still have to take radiation therapy to ensure the cancer cells are gone. 

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

It is also one of the common types of lung cancer mesothelioma. About 15% to 20% of people who are exposed to asbestos suffered from this cancer. This cancer attacks the abdomen and the abdominal cavity. Unlike pleural mesothelioma cancer, patients feel pain around their belly and lumps. Their weight also reduces drastically without any reason. 

The Cause of Peritoneal Mesothelioma  

The cause of peritoneal mesothelioma is also asbestos. The difference is in the location where cancer grows. In this case, a person may accidentally swallow asbestos fibers. Then, the particles stuck on the abdominal organs and cavity. Slowly but surely, the particles damage the lining and start to grow cancer cells. The cancer cell’s growing speed depends on several factors, including the gene. 

The Way to Diagnose 

Just like cancer diagnosis procedures, doctors ask patients to do imaging tests. The result ensures whether cancer cells around the abdominal organs and cavity or not. If so, doctors continue the process by doing a biopsy or taking a small sample of cancer. Patients will do other medical procedures to determine the stage if it is peritoneal mesothelioma. 

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment 

The treatment depends on the cancer stage. Patients in the early stage of peritoneal mesothelioma cancer often take a surgical procedure to remove the cells. In advanced stages, patients should take chemotherapy and radiation to kill the cancer cells. In the highest stage, the treatments are only to control the symptoms. 

Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer

Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer

It is considered a rare mesothelioma cancer. Only 1% of patients are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma cancer. This cancer attacks the sac of tissue that protects the heart known as the pericardium. The symptoms are similar to pleural mesothelioma cancer. Patients often feel pain in their chest. In the next stage, patients will also suffer from breathing difficulty and cough for a long period. 

The Cause of Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer 

Unlike the previous causes, experts still aren’t sure whether asbestos is the cause of pericardial mesothelioma cancer. It needs deeper research concerning this cancer. 

The Way to Diagnose 

The doctor asks you to take an echocardiography procedure once they see the symptoms of mesothelioma cancer. The function of this procedure is to know the thickness of your heart tissues is. Then, they do a biopsy to get a sample and ensure whether you are suffering from cancer or not.  

Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment 

It depends on the stage of the cancer. The doctor suggests you take a pericardiectomy procedure for the earlier stage. The process of this procedure is removing some or all infected pericardium. Chemotherapy is another procedure you should take to kill all the cells. 

Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular mesothelioma cancer is the rarest compared to other mesothelioma cancers. Based on the report, there are only a few hundred cases. The symptoms are unclear but people who were suffered from this cancer feel a painless mass on the scrotum. 

The Cause of Testicular Mesothelioma 

Testicular mesothelioma cancer often attacks elderly men between 55 to 75 years old. Experts explain that the main cause of this cancer is excess asbestos exposure. The problem is that there is no clear explanation yet about the connection between asbestos and testicular mesothelioma cancer.  

The Way to Diagnose 

Doctors will check the condition of your scrotum using ultrasound technology. They will do a biopsy to take a small sample if found a mass is. You may also have to take a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. Doctors will analyze the tumor to ensure the diagnosis. 

Testicular Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment 

There is no specific treatment for testicular mesothelioma cancer patients. It is because the case is so rare. The hospitals often do a standard medical treatment for cancer if finding patients with testicular mesothelioma cancer. It means you have to do surgery, chemotherapy, or other treatments to kill the cancer cells. 

Bottom Line 

Due to the explanation above, we can conclude that asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma cancer. A specific type of mesothelioma cancer, such as testicular and pericardial mesothelioma may not be caused by asbestos. Deeper research is still needed to ensure that both of these cancers are caused by asbestos. 

One thing for sure is that you have to be careful when working with asbestos. Ensure that you wear complete protective gear while working. You would better not bring the gear home to the safety of your family. Take a bath after working and before going home. The point is that you should be clean and free from asbestos before going home. 

All types of lung cancer mesothelioma grow in a few years. The worst part is that most patients come to the doctor in the advanced stages. That’s why you should check your health regularly. Even if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, you can treat it earlier. The earlier the treatment, the higher the chance to survive.

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