Mesothelioma and Your Body

Pericardial, Peritoneal, and Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that arises in the mesothelium.  The mesothelium is made up of parietal and visceral membranes, which are thin layers of tissue that surround organs and body cavities. The visceral membrane surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac that covers the visceral membrane.  Together, the visceral and parietal membranes make up the mesothelium.  The mesothelium covers various organs in the body protecting them and allowing organs to move easily against each other as the lungs or heart expand and contract.  Mesothelioma is referred to by different names depending on what part of the body it is found in.  In the abdomen, it is called peritoneal mesothelioma; in the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma; in the heart, it is called pericardial mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The peritoneum lines the abdominal cavity and covers the organs inside it.  Peritoneal mesothelioma is asbestos cancer of the abdomen.  Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare condition.  Only a few hundred cases are diagnosed in the United States each year, making up less than twenty percent of all mesothelioma cases.  Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

• Weight loss - waist however may increase in size.
  
• Pain or swelling in the abdomen - fluid retention or tumor growth.
  
• Bowel obstruction - blockage in the small or large intestine.
  
• Anemia - a reduction in the number of red blood cells to below normal.
  
• Fever

Pleural Mesothelioma

The pleural membrane is made up of two sheets of skin-like body tissue that cover each lung.  Pleural mesothelioma is asbestos cancer of the lungs.  Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, making up over two-thirds of all mesothelioma cases.  Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• Shortness of breath - hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, coughing up blood.
  
• Pleural effusion - a build up of too much fluid between the pleura (linings of the lungs and chest); a pleural effusion may cause chest pain and difficulty breathing.
  
• Pain in the chest - sometimes may be felt in upper abdomen, shoulder, or arm.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

The pericardium is the smooth sheet of body tissue that surrounds the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma is asbestos cancer of the heart.  Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common form of this rare asbestos-linked cancer.  Individuals with pericardial mesothelioma have cancerous growths in tissues surrounding the heart.  Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include:

• Chest pain
  
• Shortness of breath - hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, coughing up blood.
  
• Palpitations

Contact Us Today For a Free Confidential Consultation

The law firm of Paul & Hanley, LLP has offices located throughout California, including Berkeley, Westlake Village (Los Angeles), San Francisco, and San Diego, and our mesothelioma lawyers handle cases in courts throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and across the United States.  To learn more about peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma, and the California malignant mesothelioma lawyers at Paul & Hanley, please contact us today for a free confidential consultation. For immediate assistance call toll free 800-933-2244.