Mesothelioma is an incurable asbestos cancer. This short film was produced to raise awareness of the issues around mesothelioma. It includes interviews with people who have the disease. It was produced for Action Mesothelioma day on belhalf of Forum of Asbestos Victim Support Groups. For more information visit www.ActionMeso.info

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Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma symptoms often resemble less-serious conditions, which can make diagnosis difficult. Below is a list of several common symptoms mesothelioma patients may experience.

The Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma includes:

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may be sometimes confused with symptoms of other common diseases such as pneumonia, extreme cough, flu or cold.

• A persistent cough
• Pain in the lower back or the side of the chest
• Pleural effusion
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• A hoarse or husky voice
• Fatigue
• lumps under the skin on the chest
• Losing more than 10% of your weight when not dieting
• Sweating and fevers
• Difficulty swallowing
• Some people have changes in the shape of their fingers and nails called finger clubbing, but this is not common.

The symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may be sometimes confused with symptoms of other common diseases such as gall bladder problems, hernia or pelvic mass.

• Pain in the abdomen (tummy)
• Swelling in the abdomen
• Feeling or being sick
• Poor appetite
• Losing more than 10% of your weight when not
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• bowel obstruction
• Anemia
• Distension (spreading & stretching in all directions) of abdomen
• Fluid in abdomen
• nausea

The symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma:

Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma may be sometimes confused with symptoms of other common diseases, thus it is very difficult to diagnose mesothelioma.

• Heart palpitations
• irregular heartbeat
• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Fatigue
• night sweats

The symptoms of Testicular mesothelioma:

There are no defined symptoms for testicular mesothelioma.

• Painful or painless testicular lumps
• Swelling of scrotum

Mesothelioma cancer cell types:

Mesothelioma cells are divided into three main categories: epithelioid, sarcomatoid cells, and a mix of the two types called biphasic mesothelioma.

Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Epithelioid mesothelioma cells are the most common, found in at least half of all cases of malignant mesothelioma. It is relatively easiest to treat of all types of mesothelioma. Accounting for approximately 50% to 70% of all mesothelioma cancer cells, epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of histological category. Because it is the least aggressive of the cell types, it generally responds the best to treatment, and offers the best prognosis.

These cells are relatively uniform in shape and have a tubular pattern with a distinct cell nucleus when observed under microscope. The individual cells are shaped like cubes or multi-sided boxes. Because of the similarity between adenocarcinoma and mesothelioma cancer cells, they are often confused and mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed. Inspection of the cancer cells under high-powered microscopes and identification of unique characteristics of the chemical properties of the cells can help make the proper diagnosis.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

The second type of mesothelioma is sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the most serious form of the disease, as it rarely responds to any treatment whatsoever. Cells of sarcomatoid mesothelioma are less common, occurring only in 20 to 40% of all cases.

Sarcomatoid cells may be found in the type of malignant mesothelioma cells known as biphasic cells– a combination of sarcomatoid and epithelioid cells. Because of the similarity of appearance, the sarcomatoid cancer cells can also easily be confused with the more typical sarcoma cancer cells.

Microscopic analysis normally shows a spindle cell or storiform structure with enlongated nuclei not as apparent as in the epithelial type. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is so dangerous because it attacks and generally arises from support tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat. Death usually occurs within six months of diagnosis of sarcomatoid mesothelioma.

Biphasic or mixed cell type Mesothelioma

Biphasic mesothelioma is not an independent type of mesothelioma. Biphasic mesothelioma is not a condition unto itself, as the name implies, is a combination of elements of both the epithelial and sarcomatoid subtypes, with components of each in the same tumor, or found in specific groupings throughout the tumor.

Approximately 20% to 40% of the mesothelioma cancer cells fall into the biphasic category. However, recent studies have suggested that biphasic mesothelioma accounts for 46% to 63% of all mesothelioma cancer cells.

Biphasic mesothelioma is different from epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma in that it does not have a unique cellular pattern. A section of tissue examined by a histopathologist may only contain epithelioid cancer cells, leading to a misdiagnosis of epithelioid mesothelioma. Multiple biopsies can help to avoid such mistakes and help lead to a correct diagnosis of biphasic mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis is the least common type of malignant mesothelioma. Testicular mesothelioma develops in the lining that surrounds the testicles, known as the tunica vaginalis, which provides protection and support for the reproductive organ. Since the testicles are the reproductive organs of the human body, it can be very dangerous if they are damaged by cancerous tumors. Most patients are in their 50s or older, but about ten percent of the patients are younger than 25 years.

More common testicular cancers include nonseminomas germ cell, seminomas germ cell or non-germ cell. Most frequently it is found as a palpable tumor, but it is also sometimes found during hernia repair. This finding can be associated with hydrocele, which is a fluid-filled sac surrounding the testicle, with or without a detectable mass. Testicular mesotheliomas are aggressive, and have a tendency to recur within two years, spreading to other areas such as nearby organs, lymph nodes, chest cavity, lungs, and the brain.

You can get all the types of Mesothelioma details on this blog.

Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rarest form of the asbestos-related cancer. Approximately 5 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial. It is associated with long term exposure to asbestos fibres. This form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. The heart, as with any organ that requires constant movement to work properly, requires constant lubrication. Lubrication comes in the form of a thin layer of mucous, and in normal systems the heart beats on as normal.

As in the lung, the rapid growth of the cancerous tumors can cause expansion of the tissue and accumulation of fluid. The fluid can interfere with the functioning of the heart and cause chest pain. People in the fourth to seventh decades of life are most likely to have this cancer, and there is a 2:1 male to female ratio.

You can get all the types of Mesothelioma details on this blog.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type of malignant mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma is most often caused by the ingestion of carcinogenic asbestos fibers.

Comprising approximately 25 percent of mesothelioma cases, this form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane. The collection of cells surrounds the gastrointestinal tract and provides lubrication for the stomach and intestines to move so that they may function properly. These organs must be able to move properly in order to properly digest and process food, and a failure in the peritoneum can result in severe and debilitating consequences.

You can get all the types of Mesothelioma details on this blog.