Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium membrane – the membrane that cushions the inner part of the body cavities such as pleura, pericardium, peritoneum, tunica vaginalis testis etc. After doing extensive researches and experiments on the subject, scientists now believe that those who are exposed to the particles of asbestos are vulnerable to the disease. Currently Mesothelioma kills about 10000 people in America alone.

The gravity of mesothelioma is that those who are diagnosed with it have no chance of living long. The mesothelioma survival rate normally is about two years although with the right medication; a patient has a chance to live about five years.

Above 60 percent of malignant mesothelioma affects the pleural and 20 per cent gets it in their peritoneum. The other one, pericardial type of mesothelioma is not that much widespread.

In accordance with these three types of mesothelioma, the signs and symptoms of it can change. Nevertheless, most common symptoms are chest pain, loss of appetite, difficulty in breathing, dry cough, blood when coughing and weight loss. As these signs are common with other diseases too, diagnosing mesothelioma is not easy. These signs mostly relate with lungs since asbestos particles affects the cavity of the lungs when a person exposes to asbestos fibers over a period of time.

Mesothelioma has four stages. Within the first stage, a tumor appears in one lung’s lining. Within the second, the tumor expands to the other and can even harm the heart. The third stage of the disease expands the tumor to the abdominal parts and appears in all other organs as well. Mesothelioma affects all the organs of the body in its fourth stage. As there is no cure at this stage, the treatment should be started at the earliest to get some relief and increase the mesothelioma survival rate.

Mesothelioma is three types. They are epitheloid, sarcomatoid and the mixed one. Epitheloid type affects the organs’ inner coverings as well as bodies’ inner surface. This type is more common as it records 70 per cent of mesotheliomas in the world. Sacromatoid harms the cartilages, bones and muscles. About 20 percent of patients are with this type and the mesothelioma survival chances are nil than the patients who are suffering with the first type. The last one ‘mixed type’ consists of both these malignancies and about 20 to 35 per cent patients suffer with it.

Workers in asbestos manufacturing factories are the most vulnerable to mesothelioma and their families are also at risk as the members of these families who work in asbestos factories may carry the asbestos particles with them. Those who are living near asbestos factories are also at risk.

The treatment for mesothelioma varies according to the stages of the disease, its location and the patient’s health condition. While chemotherapy and radiation are the main treatments given, modern therapies such as gene, angiogenesis and photodynamic therapies are also used now for prolonging mesothelioma survival. Multimodal therapy that combines all these therapies is yet another aspect used to prolong the patient’s life.