Mesothelioma

It is as dreadful as it sounds, Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, it is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium). In lay mens language houston lawyer mesothelioma asbestos is a disease that causes the deadly tumors to develop in the chest and lung cavity. Mesothelioma is also called abestos lung cancer as it happens due to asbestos exposure.

Malignant Mesothelioma begins in tissue that surrounds and supports the different organs in the body. This protective tissue is called mesothelium and serves to protect the lungs, heart and stomach by producing a special fluid that allows the organs to move freely. Tumors that begin here are very dangerous because of their proximity to the lungs, heart and abdominal organs.

Although these tumors can be benign and non-cancerous, they are more often malignant and cancerous. According to reported studies malignant mesotheloma is a very rare form of cancer.

Doctors only diagnose two to three thousand cases per year in the United States, with men three to five times more than women likely to get the disease. Although rare, the incidents of Malignant Mesotheloma appear to be on the rise. There are three main types of malignant mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura).

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). While pericardial houston lawyer mesothelioma asbestos is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). About three-fourths of mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. Another 10 to 20 percent begin in the abdomen, while those starting around the heart are very rare. Although rare, Malignant Mesothelioma represents a serious health threat to those diagnosed.

Because it often becomes advanced before symptoms appear the outlook is not as good as it is for cancers that doctors find earlier. About half of the patients whose doctors find and treated the cancer early will survive two years or more. The average survival time for all stages of Malignant Mesothelioma is about one year.

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