Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can take up to 50 years to develop. This is caused when a person is exposed to asbestos. It will form in the lining of the lungs, the heart, the chest and even in the abdomen.
Understand mesothelioma
You may not know that your body has a thin membrane that covers and even lubricates different cavities in the body. This membrane is called mesothelium. Exposure to asbestos can lead to cancer in this food, known as mesothelioma.
Three types of mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma
If the cancer has developed in the lining of the lungs, then it is pleural mesothelioma. This form of mesothelioma accounts for about 75 percent of the diagnosed cases. This is because the asbestos fibers are often inhaled and become trapped in the lining of the lungs.
Peritoneal mesothelioma
If the cancer is found in the lining of the abdomen, this is called peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is also caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers and accounts for about 20% of the diagnoses.
Pericardial mesothelioma
The rarest form of mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium around the heart - known as pericardial mesothelioma. Researchers are still trying to find out how this form develops, most diagnoses happen after the patient dies. [*]
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