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Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is not very common, caused by a relatively long-term exposure to asbestos. Basically, when you are exposed to asbestos with insufficient protection, you will inhale the small asbestos particles and they will travel to the mesothelial cells making up the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the external lining that protects some of our vital organs, that is why this form of cancer has been named Mesothelioma. There are different types of Mesothelioma cancer, depending on the affected region or organ. The mesothelial cells change shape and become irregular if they are exposed to constant exposure to asbestos for a longer period of time.

Mesothelioma is not at all easy to diagnose, because the cancerous cells can be latent for a very long period of time and the symptoms may vary extensively; you may not realize you are suffering from this condition for quite a while. It could take decades for someone to start developing the cancer symptoms and it will also take a while before someone can finally be diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer.That is the reason why many people in their 60's are currently discovering they suffer from a disease they actually contracted 20 or 30 years ago, because of exposure to the asbestos particles without sufficient protection, or without any protection whatsoever. Many of these people are suing the companies that determined their constant exposure for millions of dollars.

There are three main types of Mesothelioma cancer, pleural, pericardial and peritoneal. The most common one is the pleural Mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, while the other two kinds affect the heart and respectively the abdomen.The pleural Mesothelioma can have symptoms such as coughing, breathing and swallowing difficulties, shortness of breath and fever. The lining of the lungs is affected by the cancerous cells growing and spreading on it. Peritoneal Mesothelioma has symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, weight loss and loss of appetite, bowel obstruction, stomach pain etc; the type called pericardial Mesothelioma affects the lining of the heart and its symptoms include, breathing difficulties, persistent coughing and palpitations. As you can notice, there are no specific symptoms, in the sense that these symptoms are specific to a number of conditions, some far less serious, and that's shat makes this kind of cancer difficult to diagnose.

There are various forms of treatment, but they do not guarantee success. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and even surgery are the possibilities for Mesothelioma patients, but the success rate is not very encouraging. However, extensive research is being conducted in order to find more successful treatments that would not affect the body.