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What Organs are Affected by Mesothelioma?
What organs are affected by mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer affecting a part of the body many people have never heard of: the mesothelium, a thin membrane that surrounds many of the body's organs. Multiple parts of the body are surrounded by mesothelium and can fall victim to this cancer, although some versions are much more common than others.
The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which originates in the lining of the lungs. It accounts for over 80% of all cases. Although this cancer isn't the same as lung cancer, it can swiftly spread to the lungs, where it can cause symptoms similar to those of lung cancer. These include fluid buildup, coughing and difficulty breathing. Since asbestos exposure most often involves fibers being breathed in, it makes sense that this form is most common.
What organs are affected by mesothelioma?
The second most common form of mesothelioma, peritoneal, affects the mesothelium surrounding, not a single organ, but the entire abdominal cavity. The peritoneal cavity contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, kidneys, large intestine, and adrenal glands. Tumors that begin in the mesothelium can begin to press upon and interfere with any of these organs. It's very common for them to affect the stomach and intestines, causing abdominal pain.
A third variety, pericardial mesothelioma, affects the heart. It accounts for only 1% of cases. This can quickly have severe effects on the heart and cause chest pain and arrhythmias. It's one of the deadliest cancers, with an average survival rate of just 6 months.
Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest version, with only 100 cases described in medical literature. It affects the testicles with symptoms like pain and swelling. It has a slightly better survival rate of 2 years. All cancers can metastasize, spreading through the blood and lymph to distant parts of the body. mesothelioma is no different, and in its final stages it can affect almost any organ of the body.
What organs are affected by mesothelioma?
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or Lung Cancer resulting from asbestos exposure, you have important legal rights and may be entitled to a cash settlement. Please call us today to get the facts. Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or fill our online contact form and a lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to answer your questions. Operators are standing by. We want to help you, so please make the call today.