The 3 Types of Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is classified in a number of different ways. First there are the two groups of growths which are known as being either benign or malignant. If the growth is malignant, it is further broken down into different types depending on where the cancer is located on the body. In addition, there are three different types of cancer cells that are found in patients with mesothelioma.

With the various different types of this cancer, the different cell types, and the different growths, there can be a lot of confusion. This guide has been written to break down the various types so they can be more easily understood.

When a growth is first discovered, the first thing that will be done are various tests to determine if the growth is benign or malignant. A benign growth does not spread to surrounding tissue and thus is not considered cancer. However, most cases of mesothelioma are malignant which means that the cancer can (or has) spread to surrounding tissue. A malignancy destroys tissue, gradually spreading the cancer throughout the body. Because most cases of mesothelioma are malignant, when the disease is mentioned, it is usually to describe the malignant form.

There are three different types of malignant mesothelioma cells that are found in patients with the disease: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphastic. Epithelioid cells are the most common types of cells associated with mesothelioma, accounting for around 70% of cell types. Luckily, this type of cells also account for the highest chance of survival for those with mesothelioma.

Epithelioid cells are usually found on the surface of internal organs as well as other internal surfaces. Sarcomatoid is a much more dangerous type of cancer cell which affects bone, cartilage, and fat. While less common, the existence of this cell type severely lower the survival rate of patients with mesothelioma. Biphastic cells is really just a combination of the two cell types. Biphastic is just a term that means that both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells are present.

There are three different types of malignant mesothelioma cancer, each affecting a different area of the body: pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pericardial mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma (also known as mesothelioma of the pleura) is the most common type as it accounts for nearly 75% of diagnoses of mesothelioma. This type affects the pleural cavity around the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and is the reason why asbestos was taken off the market. Sadly, many homes and buildings still contain asbestos as they were built before it was taken off the market. Because of this, there are still many people who are exposed to asbestos every day.

Asbestos fibers are introduced to the lungs by breathing the fibers in. Once in the lungs, the fibers may cause cancerous tumors to grow around them. These tumors often thicken the pleural fluid which makes lung movement difficult. The tumors can also press on other organs or on the ribcage which, in turn, can cause a large amount of pain. Because the lungs supply oxygen to the blood stream, it is very easy for the cancer to spread throughout the body. This is one of the reasons that pleural mesothelioma and other types of lung cancer are very hard to treat and have a poor prognosis.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum which is a thin cell membrane. Without the aid of this particular membrane, the stomach and intestines would not properly function and the digestion of food can become very difficult for the body. Because of this, peritoneal mesothelioma is a very serious condition. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are very often confused with other conditions which makes detection fairly difficult. Because of the area of the body this disease affects, and the fact that it is not often caught at an early stage, peritoneal mesothelioma has a very high mortality rate.

This particular form of the disease is caused by the ingestion of asbestos. As fibers are ingested, they embed themselves in the stomach lining. As with pleural mesothelioma, cancerous tumors often start to grow around these embedded fibers and kill off healthy stomach cells.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the most rare form of mesothelioma as it accounts for only 5% of mesothelioma cases. This cancer affects the protective sac that covers the heart known as the pericardium. This sac provides lubrication to the heart allowing it to beat properly. This form of mesothelioma, like pleural mesothelioma, is caused by the inhalation of asbestos. In this form of cancer, tumors start to grow around asbestos fibers embedded in the pericardium.

Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma often don't show for several years, even decades. Because of this, it is difficult to detect in early stages. Symptoms include palpitations, shortness of breath, and chronic cough. Sadly, by the time symptoms do appear, it is often too late for a positive prognosis.

Mesothelioma is an extremely lethal form of cancer that is often only discovered in the later stages of the disease. While there is no cure for mesothelioma, those who are diagnosed in the early stages of this cancer can have prolonged and more comfortable lives than those diagnosed in the latter stages of the disease.

Medical science has grown leaps and bounds over the past few decades and along with this growth, many new methods of treating cancer have been created. Perhaps just a few years from now, the prognosis of this deadly disease will become better. For now, medical technology is growing rapidly, but the current treatments for mesothelioma include allowing patients to live out their lives as comfortably as possible.