Mesothelioma is one of the dangerous cancers; can develop in the tissues covering the lungs and abdomen. The main cause of Mesothelioma cancer is inhaling asbestos particles. Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals with long, thin fibers. Generally that’s not visible and can float in air easily. Any one can come in the contact of this asbestos particle in asbestos rich environment. These asbestos particles are absorbed by the lungs and it may take 20 to 50 years to be developing as disease.
Pleural Mesothelioma.
As shown in the picture, the tissues lining the lungs are called the pleura. There are two pleura, called pleural membranes. The gap between them is called the pleural space. The pleura are fibrous sheets. The pleura are protecting the lungs by producing a lubricating fluid that fills the gap between the two pleura. At breathing time, this helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest.
Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in the pleura. This is known as pleural mesothelioma. Because it is so close, pleural mesothelioma can also affect the sheet of tissue covering the heart - the pericardium. Doctors call the pericardium the lining, although it is on the outside of the heart. It protects the heart and allows it to move smoothly within the sac that surrounds it. So it does much the same job for the heart as the pleura do for the lungs.
The peritoneum
The tissue lining the abdomen is called the peritoneum. It helps to protect the contents of the abdomen. It also produces a lubricating fluid. This helps the organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen as we move around.
Mesothelioma of the tissues lining the abdominal cavity is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. It is much less common than pleural mesothelioma.
It is unusual for mesothelioma to spread to other parts of the body. But if it does, it does not usually cause troublesome symptoms.
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