Asbestos mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the body’s internal organs, that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.

Types of Asbestos Mesothelioma

The different kinds of asbestos mesothelioma include pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma, and the difference between these and others are the areas of the body in which the cancer develops, although all of them are related by way of their affecting the mesothelium membrane. The most common type of asbestos mesothelioma affects the pleura, which is the membrane lining the lungs and inside the chest wall called pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the peritoneum, or the lining that protects the abdominal area, while pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium membrane surrounding the heart.

Causes of Asbestos Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma often develops for people who work in environments where they are exposed to asbestos substances. It begins with contact with asbestos, when small asbestos particles, such as dust and fibers, enter into the body through inhalation or other means and then travels to the mesothelium. The asbestos compounds cause irritation and inflamation of the mesothelium surrounding the lungs, heart or abdomen, which causes abnormal cancer cells to develop, thickens the lining and produces fluid buildup. This thickening of the lining and fluid accumulation puts pressure against bodily organs that affect their ability to perform their necessary functions and are the root cause of the physical manifestations of asbestos mesothelioma.

Symptoms of Asbestos Mesothelioma

As explained above, the thickening of the mesothelium and fluid accumulation applies physical pressure against organs that affect their ability to functioning in the human body. Asbestos mesothelioma can cause breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeats, fatigue, weight loss, chest pain, abdominal pain, irregular or difficult bowel movements. Severe symptoms of asbestos mesothelioma can even be difficulty swallowing, coughing blood, tumors, collapsed lungs and blood clots in veins and arteries.

What To Do Next

If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos at any time, you should contact a physician to have a medical examination and tests performed. Asbestos mesothelioma will take time to manifest, often times thirty years after initial exposure to asbestos, making it a difficult illness to diagnose.