Types of Mesothelioma

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With all of the press on mesothelioma, you might have already heard about occupational cancer caused by asbestos. Although it is relatively rare, with the incidents of other types of cancer being much more prevalent, it is one of the most deadly types of cancer. It comes in four separate forms that doctors have found. Some of these types frequently occur, while others are considerably more rare.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

There are several ways that mesothelioma can present itself. One of these ways is in peritoneal tissues. These tissues are located in the abdomen, and it is not as common as cancer originating in the lungs. This type occurs in 20% of the cases. An article about epithelioid mesothelioma mentions that almost all types of peritoneal metastatic mesothelioma are in the epithelial tissue of the abdominal wall lining.

Pleural Mesothelioma

This is the most common type of mesothelioma. It occurs in almost 80% of all cases of asbestos-related cancer. This is normally where mesothelioma starts and then metastasizes to other places in the body. When it metastasizes, it often causes other types. In this case, the mesothelioma occurs in the lining or sack around the lungs or the lungs themselves. When caught early, this type has some surgical prospects, but symptoms are rarely reported until the 3rd stage.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare, but it is the type of cancer that shows up in the heart's lining. This type causes cardiac effusion or fluid around the heart. Most people do not realize that they have it because the cardiac symptoms are easily mistaken for other conditions. This type can occur on its own or as a result of metastasis.

Testicular Mesothelioma

This is by far the rarest form of mesothelioma. In this type, the mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the testes. Although doctors are not sure how this type of asbestos exposure happens, it so rare that less than 100 cases were reported as of 2020. It is also the easiest type of mesothelioma to treat since surgical removal is a viable option. It may be that it occurs more frequently, but since it is easy to remove, it is mistaken for other types of cancer and removed before testing is completed.

No matter which type of mesothelioma you have, the treatment methods are similar. Some of the treatment options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy and removal surgery. Ask your doctor which option is best for you.