Mesothelioma is a type of cancer. Mesothelioma is caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In Mesothelioma the malignant cells gets developed in the mesothelium. Mesothelium is a protecting lining which covers most of the body’s internal organs. The outer lining of the lungs which is called pleura and chest cavity are most common sites of Mesothelioma. But sometimes Mesothelioma is also caused in the peritoneum and the pericardium which covers the heart.

This disease is mostly caused to the workers in the asbestos factory or cement factory. Mesothelioma is mainly caused by the inhaling of the asbestos particles for a long time. Mesothelioma cancer is not related to smoking in any ways. There are various symptoms of Mesothelioma such as shortness of breath which is caused due to pleural effusion and pain in chest wall. One more common symptom of this disease is weight loss. The process which is used for its diagnosis includes chest x-ray, CT scan and it is confirmed by biopsy and microscopic examination. In its diagnosis a thoracoscopy is inserted in the chest for taking biopsies. This thoracoscopy is a tube in which a camera is fitted. Still there are researches going on for early detection of this disease.

It takes long time about 20 to 50 years for the symptoms to appear. Weight loss and cachexia are the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. There are some other symptoms are also such as bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia and fever also.

Mesothelioma diagnosis is very difficult to perform. The main problem in doing diagnosis is that the symptom of this disease is same for some other diseases also. So it is very difficult to find whether a patient is suffering from mesothelioma or not. If a patient has a history of exposure to asbestos then it is more likely to have mesothelioma. Then the doctors perform a chest x-ray and if it is found that the pleural is thickening then they assume it mostly that the patient is suffering from mesothelioma.

It is considered that if cancer in found on the membrane surface of the patient then it is starting stage. But it is declared as advanced when it has spread to other body parts such as lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

The major risk factor of mesothelioma is working with asbestos. It happens in the people who are pre-disposed to asbestos. But still it is found rarely. It can also happens by inhalation of fibrous silicates such as erionite.

Medical science had not any success till now in treating the malignant mesothelioma, the most common one of mesothelioma. No conventional therapies had got any success. The patient can survive up to 6-12 months after presentation. Any treatment with the help of surgery is also not found. The most common surgery which is tried for this is pleurectomy / decortication. These surgeries are used to remove to lining of the chest. Radical surgery is also tried as a consolidative treatment. In this the entire hemi-thorax is treated with radiation. With the help of this radiation therapy a patient can survive up to 5 years.