Malignant Mesothelioma Pleural and Peritoneal: The Truth

We all have known that malignant mesothelioma is a disease caused by asbestos exposure. As the victim inhales the asbestos fibers for years, the mesothelial cells will be affected. Malignant mesothelioma pleural is the most common mesothelioma form. It is about 75% of all cases of malignant mesothelioma.

Pleura is located between your chest cavity and your lungs. It is a thin membrane. It provides lubrication in order to allow the lungs maneuver easliy against your chest wall as you are breathing. It also plays the role of protective layer. Often, malignant mesothelioma pleural is described as a lung cancer caused by its close proximity to our lungs.

Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment Via Surgical Options – Robert Kratzke, MD
www.curemeso.org Learn about mesothelioma treatment options via surgery from the International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma 2008. Presentation by Dr. Robert Kratzke. For more videos, log in to www.curemeso.org.

Beside the malignant mesothelioma pleural, there is another common form: peritoneal. It is about 10-20% of all cases of mesothelioma. Peritoneum is a membrane encapsulating our organs of our abdomen.

Though it is not as common as malignant mesothelioma pleural, it is more aggressive and invasive. And it gives shorter chances to survive to the patients. Pericardial mesothelioma is another form, accounting less than 10% of all cases of mesothelioma. Pericardium is a membrane protecting our heart. It is also referred to the heart sac. There is another form of this disease in which the rarest: tunica vaginalis testis. It originates in the lining that surrounds the testicles.

It has been for years that asbestos exposure is known as the only cause of malignant mesothelioma pleural and any other form of this disease. Indeed, the inhalation of the asbestos fibers is really dangerous. Therefore, for so many years, many parties have told that working at such environment that is full of asbestos fibers elements is really dangerous for short or long term. Even though, however, either the company and the workers seem to ignore this due to one and another reasons. Furthermore, there still no sufficient notification that such workers are surrounded by such hostile environement. If these facts still remain for some times forward, the issue of this disease will also still remain.