Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks the mesothelium, the tissue that lines various

body organs. There are four types of mesothelioma cancer, namely:

Pleural mesothelioma (pleural mesothelioma), which is a cancer that attacks the

lining of the lining of the lungs (pleura). This type is the most common type.
Mesothelioma peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma), which is mesothelioma in
the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum).
Pericardial mesothelioma (pericardial mesothelioma), which is mesothelioma that
attacks the protective layer of the heart organ.
Testicular mesothelioma, a mesothelioma that attacks the testicular protective
lining or testicles.
Mesothelioma

There is a benign tumor in the chest called a solitary fibrous tumor which is
sometimes called a benign mesothelioma. This condition is not included in the
mesothelioma that will be discussed.

Causes of Mesothelioma
The cause of mesothelioma is not known with certainty. However, mesothelioma is
always associated with exposure to asbestos or asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that
is widely used as building construction materials, such as roofs, because of its heat-
resistant and fire-resistant properties. The official use of asbestos has been banned
since 1999.

When asbestos is destroyed, either during mining or building renovations, asbestos

will produce fibers or fine dust. Asbestos fine fiber is very easily inhaled, then
enters and settles in the organs of the body, especially the lungs. Asbestos fibers
that are ingested can also move through the lymphatic system, settle, and infect
cells in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum).

Asbestos exposure can also affect the function of the reproductive organs and
heart. However, it is not known for certain the spread process because it is very
rare.

In general, there are several factors that increase the risk of mesothelioma, namely:

The work environment is vulnerable to asbestos exposure, such as mineral mines,

construction sites, the automotive industry, power plants, the textile industry, and
steel mills.
Residing in old buildings or neighborhoods whose land contains asbestos.
Having family members who work in an environment that is vulnerable to asbestos
exposure. Asbestos can stick to the skin and clothing, so asbestos can be carried
into the house or other environments.
Have a history of mesothelioma or genetic disorders that increase the risk of
cancer.
Apart from asbestos, there are several other factors that can increase the risk of
mesothelioma, although it is rare. These include exposure to erionite minerals,
exposure to radiation from the chemical thorium dioxide used in X-ray
examinations until the 1950s, and infection with simian viruses (SV40).
Before know the Symptoms of Mesothelioma
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Symptoms of mesothelioma develop gradually and usually takes 20-30 years until
symptoms appear. The patient may not feel any symptoms when mesothelioma is at
an early stage. But over time, cancer cells will grow and press on nerves or other
organs, causing symptoms.

The symptoms of mesothelioma differ depending on the location of the presence of

cancer cells. In pulmonary mesothelioma, symptoms that may appear are as follows:

Fever is accompanied by sweat, especially at night.

Excessive fatigue.
Cough accompanied by unbearable pain.
Shortness of breath due to a buildup of fluid in the lungs, precisely in the pleural
cavity, which is the space between the two layers of pleura lining the lungs.
Weight loss for no apparent reason.
Chest pain.
Swelling and deformation at the tip of the finger (clubbing).
Lumps appear in the tissue under the skin surface of the chest area.
Meanwhile, stomach mesothelioma (peritoneal) has the following symptoms:

Weight decreased dramatically.

Diarrhea.
Constipation.
Pain in the abdomen.
Swelling in the abdominal area.
A bump in the stomach appears.
Obstruction of bowel movements and urination.
Pericardial mesothelioma and testes are very rare types of mesothelioma. Pericardial
mesothelioma usually causes symptoms in the form of chest pain and respiratory
distress, while mesothelioma testis is characterized by swelling or the appearance of
a lump in the testicular area.

The symptoms of mesothelioma are not specific and can be caused by other
conditions. Therefore, see a doctor immediately if you feel the symptoms above,
especially if you have a history of asbestos exposure.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
The doctor will suspect a patient suffering from mesothelioma, if there are
symptoms, which are strengthened by physical examination. But to be sure, imaging
tests need to be done. Among others are:
X-rays, to detect abnormalities, such as thickening in the lung lining, fluid in the
pleural cavity, or changes in lung shape.
CT scan, to examine the chest and stomach area, and detect any signs of cancer,
determine the location of the cancer, and check whether the cancer has spread to
other organs.
PET (Positron Emission Tomography). Examination using compounds containing
radioactive atoms that are injected into the body to get a detailed picture of the tissue
suspected cancer cells.
MRI, to get a more detailed picture of the tissue determine the location of the tumor.
This Symptoms of Mesothelioma II
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To get a more detailed picture of the tissue determining the location of the tumor.In
addition, the doctor can also suggest further examinations in the form of:
Liquid sample examination. If the patient experiences a buildup of fluid in the
body related to mesothelioma, the doctor will take a fluid sample using a needle
inserted through the skin into the area where the fluid is located. Next, the liquid
will be analyzed in a laboratory to detect the presence of cancer cells. There are
several types of fluid and tissue sample tests, namely:
Thoracentesis, fluid sampling in the area of the pleural cavity.
Paracentesis, taking fluid in the abdominal cavity.
Pericardiocentesis, taking fluid in the layers (membranes) around the heart.
Biopsy, which is the procedure of removing tissue samples from certain body parts
for later analysis in a laboratory. There are several types of biopsy examinations,
namely:
Needle biopsy. This type of biopsy uses a long needle that is inserted through the
skin into the chest or abdomen to take tissue samples.
Thoracoscopy, laparoscopy and mediastinoscopy. This type of biopsy uses an
elastic camera hose and a special surgical instrument that is inserted through one or
more small incisions to take tissue samples. The type of sample removal procedure
generally depends on the area of the body undergoing the examination, namely:
Thoracoscopy, to examine the space between the lung and the chest wall.
Laparoscopy, to examine the inside of the abdominal organs.
Mediastinoscopy, to examine the area around the heart.
Surgery biopsy. For some conditions, the doctor will carry out invasive procedures
to take larger tissue samples to determine the diagnosis. Sometimes, the doctor will
also perform the procedure to remove all tumors if possible. There are two types of
biopsy procedures through surgery, namely:
Thoracotomy, which is a type of biopsy performed through open surgery on the
chest.
Laparotomy, which is a type of biopsy that is done through open surgery in the
abdomen.
Bronchoscopic biopsy. The procedure for removing tissue samples using a long,
thin elastic tube that is inserted through the throat to examine the respiratory tract.
=> Mesothelioma Stadium
Based on the level of spread, mesothelioma is divided into four stages. This
division of stages allows the doctor to identify the development of cancer cells in
the body and determine the treatment steps to be taken. The four stages of
mesothelioma, namely:

Stage 1: The tumor is still local, that is only in one area of the body and
mesothelioma cells have not spread to other tissues or organs. Surgery is
performed to remove the tumor. The life expectancy of patients diagnosed with
stage 1 mesothelioma is 21 months or more.

Stage 2: The tumor size is larger and mesothelioma cells begin to spread to the
nearest area. Surgical removal of the tumor can still be done, although the results
are not very effective. Life expectancy for stage 2 mesothelioma patients is 19
months or less.

Stage 3: Mesothelioma cells have spread to surrounding organs. Surgery is no

longer effective because some cancer cells have spread to other areas. Life
expectancy for stage 3 mesothelioma patients is around 16 months.

Stage 4: Mesothelioma cells have spread to various areas throughout the body
through the bloodstream. Treatment that is still in the research phase will be
offered to patients to extend the patient's chances of life. Life expectancy in
patients with end-stage mesothelioma is very low, which is around 12 months.
Mesothelioma Treatment
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is rare and has not been cured until now.
Treatment is done to control or reduce the symptoms experienced and extend the
patient's chance of life. Treatment steps are generally determined based on several
factors, namely:

Age and overall patient health condition.

Type and location of mesothelioma.
Stage or spread of cancer cells in the body.
Size of mesothelioma
Based on the above considerations, there are several treatment steps that may be
recommended by doctors, namely:

Chemotherapy, treatment therapy with anticancer drugs to destroy or inhibit the

growth of cancer cells that cannot be removed through surgery. Chemotherapy can
be done before or after surgery to shrink the tumor, facilitate the tumor removal
process, and reduce the risk of cancer reappearing.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy), treatment therapy with X-rays and proton rays
that are focused on certain areas of the body. Radiotherapy is usually done after the
patient undergoes a surgical procedure, to remove the remaining cancer cells. This
therapeutic treatment is also done to reduce the symptoms of advanced cancer
when surgery is not possible to do.
Operation. Surgery is performed when mesothelioma is still at an early stage.
There are several choices of actions that doctors may take during surgery. Among
others are:
Appointment of cancer cells as much as possible from the patient's body. This
action can support the treatment of patients with radiotherapy to reduce pain and
inhibit cancer growth.
Fluid suction due to a buildup of fluid in the chest area that can interfere with
breathing. This action is done by inserting a catheter tube into the chest to suck up
fluid. The doctor can also inject drugs to glue the pleural cavity so that the fluid
cannot accumulate anymore. This action is known as pleurodesis
Removal of tissue around the abdominal cavity, ribs, or lungs affected by cancer
cells.
Removal of the affected lung organ and surrounding tissue. This procedure is
usually followed by radiotherapy.
Multimodality therapy. This therapy is a combination of three or more treatment
steps, for example surgery, postoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy to
increase the success rate of treatment.
Research stage. The doctor will inform the patient about the method of treatment
that is still in the research phase. However, the possibility of the patient recovering
is not yet known with certainty, so it needs to be carefully considered. On the other
hand, this treatment method can increase the chance of doctors to learn more about
mesothelioma treatment. There are several treatment methods that are still in the
research stage that can be done by patients, namely: Biological therapy - using the
patient's immune system to fight cancer, or also called immunotherapy.
Gene therapy - changes the genes contained in cancer cells to stop this disease.
Target therapy - use drugs to attack abnormalities / abnormalities that occur in
cancer cells.
Supporting treatment. This treatment can help sufferers in controlling the signs and
symptoms of mesothelioma, such as:
Breathing exercises, to control breathing when sufferers experience symptoms of
difficulty breathing.
Body relaxation exercises, to reduce respiratory muscle tension, so that sufferers
can breathe more easily.
Prevention of Mesothelioma
The main preventive measure for mesothelioma is to avoid contact with anything
that contains asbestos. If you work in an environment that is at high risk of
asbestos exposure, then follow the work safety rules set by the company. Among
others are:
Use personal protective equipment while in a work area that is vulnerable to
asbestos exposure.
Dispose of the remaining asbestos material in a safe place and not endanger the
surrounding environment.
Do not bring home the clothes and shoes used during work
In addition, there are several things that can be done to reduce the risk of
mesothelioma, namely:
Perform routine health checks to detect symptoms or signs of disease related to
asbestos.
Quit smoking. Cigarettes do not directly cause mesothelioma, but smoking is a
trigger factor and can increase the risk of various types of cancer, including
mesothelioma.
Learn and follow the instructions regarding safe handling of asbestos in the
surrounding environment. Do not move material that contains asbestos carelessly.