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Pericardial
Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest type of the three main malignant forms of the disease. The heart, as with any organ that requires constant movement to work properly, requires constant lubrication. Lubrication comes in the form of a thin layer of mucous, and in normal systems the heart beats on as normal. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium, the protective sac that covers the heart and provides lubrication so that it can beat properly. Asbestos exposure is the most common culprit of this debilitating form of cancer, accounting for less than 10% of all mesothelioma cases worldwide, the pericardial form of the disease attacks the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. Doctors view this form of mesothelioma as even more serious than the other forms, simply given the fact that the cancer lodges in the area around the heart.
Pericardium Mutations
Inhaled asbestos fibers can pierce and shred the pericardium and cause mutations that can result in mesothelioma. Once the cancer begins to spread, it can cause chronic coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Like the other forms of the cancer, decades pass without incident as pericardial mesothelioma slowly destroys the tissues around the heart. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear it is usually far too late to treat pericardial mesothelioma with conventional drugs or therapies.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
As with both the pleura and the peritoneum, the growth of tumors in the pericardial region causes the expansion of tissue and allows fluid to accumulate around the heart. The fluid can interfere with the functioning of the heart. It is this fluid that is responsible for most of the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. These symptoms include:
- Chest pain, ranging from uncomfortable to severe
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Persistent coughing
- Extreme fatigue after minimal activity or exertion
Pericardial mesothelioma resembles the other types of asbestos-caused mesothelioma in that the symptoms are often mistaken for something more common. In this case, heart attack or some other sort of heart disease is suspected, especially when the patient begins complaining of persistent chest pains.
Symptoms can vary with each patient and can be affected by a number of variables, including the location and size of the tumors and the overall health of the patient. The age of the patient may also factor into the equation.
A thorough patient history is the key to the proper diagnosis of the disease. Anyone who worked with asbestos or asbestos-containing products, particularly in shipyards or in the construction field, should always mention their exposure to their doctor. Because this is a rare disease, other diagnoses are usually considered before doctors investigate the possibilities of mesothelioma.
Prognosis
Doctors and research scientists are still searching for a way to cure mesothelioma or at least extend the life of those suffering from all types of the disease. Because it is almost always diagnosed in its late stages, some patients die within weeks of learning they have the disease. Few last longer than a year.
Diagnostic aids that will result in earlier diagnosis of mesothelioma are currently being tested and other forms of treatment are being surveyed in clinical trials, all in hopes that the lives of mesothelioma patients can someday be prolonged.