Mesothelioma Law

The mesothelium is a layer of specialized cells that cover the outer surface of most of the organs in the body. These specialized cells, also called mesothelial cells, also line the chest cavity, the abdominal cavity and the cavity around the heart.

The purpose of the mesothelium is to protect the organs by making a lubricating fluid which allows the organs to move within the body. For instance, when a person breathes, the lungs expand and the amount of space in the chest decreases. The lubricating fluid produced by the mesothelium allows the lungs to press against the rest of the other organs in the chest and to move with each breath.

The mesothelium can be divided into three parts. In the chest, the mesothelium is known as the pleura. In the abdomen, the mesothelium is called the peritoneum. And covering the heart, creating the sac-like pericardial cavity, is the pericardium.

Like all cancers, mesothelioma develops when cells grow too rapidly at an out-of-control pace. Normally, cells in the body grow, divide and die in a continuous and orderly fashion throughout a person’s life. This process happens more rapidly in the beginning of a person’s life and then slows down during adulthood. As an adult, cells usually only grow and divide in order to replace old, dying or injured cells. Cancer cells, on the other hand, continue to grow, divide and multiply even if they are not needed by the body and this creates tumors.

Mesothelial Tumors

Tumors of the mesothelium create mesothelioma. These tumors can be either cancerous or non-cancerous. The non-cancerous tumors are called benign. Cancerous tumors are called malignant. Most of the tumors in the mesothelium are cancerous, or malignant. Therefore, when most people have mesothelioma, they really have malignant mesothelioma.

Several types of tumors can develop inside the body which are not malignant. Cysts commonly form on many of the organs, especially the reproductive organs in both males and females. Other types of tumors can form near the mesothelium on the surface of the organs themselves. To learn more about mesothelioma and cancer, explore the links below:

• Cancer Prevention
• Cancer Pain Management
• Asbestos-Related Diseases
• Important Steps to Prevent Cancer

Malignant mesothelioma is divided into 3 primary types. Over half (50% to 70%) of mesotheliomas are known as epithelioid type. The prognosis, or the outlook for survival and treatment, is the highest for epitheliod mesothelioma. Another type is called sarcomatoid, which is 7% to 20%. The other type is known as mixed/biphasic and occur 20% to 35% of the time.