To get better informed on the topic, here’s an in-depth look at the staging process and what to expect during each stage of mesothelioma…
1. Different Types of Mesothelioma
There are four different types of mesothelioma, but pleural is the most common form. It accounts for about 75-percent of all cases, says Asbestos.com. Each type of mesothelioma is named after where it is located in the body. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the outer lining of the lungs and inning lining of the chest cavities. The first signs of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain and shortness of breath. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type of mesothelioma which accounts for about 20 to 25-percent of all cases. It originates in the abdomen, affecting the protective lining of the abdominal cavity.
Pericardial is the third type of mesothelioma is extremely rare. It begins in the heart, also known as the pericardium. It often causes chest pain, and irregular heart beat, pericardial thickening and pericardial effusion (fluid buildup). The last form is the most severe — it’s known as metastatic mesothelioma. This form of mesothelioma is when the cancer has spread throughout the body from wherever it originated, causing a slew of very severe and serious symptoms like coughing up blood and nerve malfunction.
Most mesothelioma patients are 75 years of age or older because it can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after their first exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma to appear. More often than not, Asbestos.com explains that the patients are men who worked in heavy industry and construction which is where asbestos exposure is more commonly found.
