Many of the body’s internal organs have a protective membrane surrounding them. This membrane is called the mesothelium and is composed of two cell layers. The first layer surrounds the organ and the second creates a sac around it. Lubricating fluid is released between the two. This fluid allows the organs to easily move against adjoining structures in the body.

The mesothelium that covers the organs in the body’s abdominal cavity is called the peritoneum and the membrane covering the lungs and lining the chest cavity is called the pleura. The heart is covered and protected by the pericardium. Finally, the tissue covering male internal reproductive organs is the tunica vaginalis testis, while that covering the female reproductive organs is called tunica serosa uteri.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that occurs when the mesothelium cells divide abnormally and rapidly. These cells can be damaging to tissues and organs close in proximity, and can spread into other areas of the body. When mesothelioma occurs, it usually begins in the pleura or the peritoneum. Mesothelioma affects approximately 2,000 people in the U.S. annually; however, increased incident rates have been reported. Knowing how to recognize mesothelioma symptoms is the first step to proper treatment and sustained quality of life.

People who have been exposed to asbestos at some point in their lives experience higher risks of contracting mesothelioma. Some individuals who contracted the illness only had a brief exposure to asbestos while others had prolonged exposure. Interestingly, the National Cancer Institute reports that some individuals who had reported prolonged asbestos exposure had not contracted the illness. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma All in all, between 70 and 80 percent of people who contract mesothelioma reported being exposed to asbestos at their place of work at some point in their past.

Evidence has also showed that the family members of people working with asbestos may also have an increased risk of contracting mesothelioma. Those exposed to asbestos in the workplace may have transported trace amounts of asbestos dust into their homes on their clothing or in their hair.

Individuals who have had exposure to asbestos may start to experience symptoms of mesothelioma. However, the symptoms may not occur for many years after exposure - as long as 50 years. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma In some patients, fluid may begin to build up in the pleura causing shortness of breath and chest pain due to the accumulation of fluids. The shortness of breath may even occur when the patient is at rest. They may also experience a dry cough with little phlegm and may cough up blood.http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/symptoms.php Some people who have mesothelioma have complained of night sweats, fatigue and lumps that appear under the skin of the chest.http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/symptoms.php

Patients who have mesothelioma in the peritoneal tissue may experience weight loss and pain and/or swelling of the abdomen due to excessive fluid in this area. Patients with this type of cancer may also experience bowel obstructions, problems with their blood clotting abnormally, and anemia. They may also complain of fever. If cancer has spread to other areas of the body beyond the mesothelium, patients may have symptoms that include pain, swelling in the neck and/or face area and may also have trouble swallowing.http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma Other signs of peritoneal mesothelioma may include nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and the lumps appearing under the abdominal skin.http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/symptoms.php

Less than 5% of mesothelioma occurs in the pericardial tissue. Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include heart palpitations, pain the chest, breathing problems, night sweats, fever and general fatigue. http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/symptoms.php

If a patient has experienced any of the above symptoms and has been exposed to asbestos, or has lived with someone who has been exposed, a medical diagnosis will be necessary. Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be attributed to a variety of other ailments.

Before a medical professional can correctly diagnose the cancer, they will need to take a full medical history to see if there has been any exposure to asbestos in the patient’s past. After the medical history, a physical examination is likely to be necessary. This examination may include chest and abdomen x-rays. A lung function test may also be performed. Other prescribed tests typically include a CT or CAT scan or possibly an MRI. A biopsy is then ordered to accurately confirm the existence of mesothelioma. A surgeon or oncologist will remove a sample of the tissue to be examined by a pathologist. If the testing indicates the possibility of pleura mesothelioma, tissue may be extracted from the chest area using a thorascoscope. This scope also allows the doctor to look inside the chest area. If peritoneal mesothelioma is suspected, the doctor may obtain tissue through a peritoneoscopy. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/mesothelioma