Malignant Mesothelioma is rare cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal body organs [mesothelium].
The most common areas affected by Mesothelioma are the lining of the lungs and abdomen.
Malignant Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive and deadly cancer that is incurable.
Malignant Mesothelioma is diagnosed in about 3,500 people each year in the U. S.
Three main types of Malignant Mesothelioma are; [1] Pleural Mesothelioma (lungs and chest wall), [2] Peritoneal Mesothelioma (abdomen), [3] Pericardial Mesothelioma (heart).
3 Main Malignant Mesothelioma Types
Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer
Pleural Mesothelioma, accounting for 75% of all Mesothelioma cases, is the most common type of Mesothelioma cancers with a survival rate between 6-18 months.
Pleural Mesothelioma forms in the pleura, the soft tissue that covers the lining of the lungs and chest wall. The standard treatments Pleural Mesothelioma include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the second most common type of malignant Mesothelioma cancer, which develops on the protective lining surrounding the abdominal cavity [peritoneum] and accounts for about 20% of all diagnosed fatal Mesothelioma cases.
The prognosis for patients diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma is generally poor. The survival rate of a patient diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma will depend on tumor grade, gender, age, cancer stage and type of treatment.
Twenty-five percent of Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients survive three years after diagnosis.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer
Pericardial Mesothelioma is very rare cancer that forms in the lining around the heart [Pericardium] and accounts for about one percent of all known Mesotheliomas [less than 150 cases]
The prognosis for patients diagnosed with Pericardial Mesothelioma is generally reduced compared to that of Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients.
Pericardial Mesothelioma treatment options are chemotherapy, palliative treatments, and surgery.