Mesothelioma can either be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous) in nature. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, hence mesothelioma. What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a type of tissue lined with special cells referred to as mesothelial cells. The mesothelial cells typically line the abdominal cavity, heart cavity, chest cavity, and the outer surface of most internal organs. Each cavity has a specific name for the mesothelial covered cavity which is:

• Peritoneum: abdominal cavity
• Pleura: chest cavity
• Pericardium: heart cavity

The mesothelium has a specific purpose in the body. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that allows easy movement of the organs. The pleural mesothelium for example, allows the lungs to move easily with each breath that is taken. Without this, breathing would be a difficult and possibly painful process.Many refer to malignant mesothelioma as simply, mesothelioma. There are three main types of malignant mesothelioma ranked from less likely to more commonly seen:

1. Sarcomatoid
2. Mixed/Biphasic
3. Epithelioid

Malignant mesothelioma more commonly begins in the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma). Approximately 10-20% of the cases of malignant mesothelioma will begin in the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma). Malignant mesothelioma rarely begins in the cavity surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).Malignant Mesothelioma Statistics:

Mesothelioma is a very rare cancer estimated to affect 2,000-3,000 newly diagnosed cases annually in the U.S. The United States reported an increased rate of mesothelioma from 1970 to 1990, which has currently stabilized and possibly decreased. However, European countries continue to see an increase in the rate of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is commonly seen in the ages 65 years and older but increases with age. Mesothelioma is 5 times more likely to affect men than women. Mesothelioma is more common in the Caucasian nationality than African American.

Mesothelioma is a very serious cancer. Symptoms commonly do not appear early which causes mesothelioma to be diagnosed at an advanced stage. For this reason, mesothelioma has a low survival rate that is about 1-2 years. However, cancer research is slowly changing this statistic. Learn more about what risk factors predispose you to mesothelioma.

Pleural effusion is an accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. It is one of most common symptoms of mesothelioma and leads to shortness of breath. As the fluid collects in the lining of the lungs and chest, the pain and shortness of breath also increase. Dyspnea is shortness of breath which can be caused by a pleural effusion and/or by the presence of a tumor in the pleura or the lining of the lungs.

A buildup of fluid in the pleural can create a feeling of fullness and pressure, causing areas of pain in the chest cavity and sometimes in the lower back area. Chest pain occurs more often on the right side of the body, as mesothelioma affects the right lung 60% of the time. Only 5% patients suffer from mesothelioma in both lungs.

In some cases, a patient may also have chronic hoarseness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and/or the coughing up of blood (hemoptysis). These are the rare symptoms of mesothelioma and seen in less than 1% mesothelioma patients. If the patient also suffers from swelling of the face or neck areas, it means that the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The other type of mesothelioma is peritoneal which attacks the lining of the stomach or the abdominal cavity. It can cause symptoms like:

Abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen also known as ascites is one of the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. If there is a tumor in the peritoneum membrane, it can put increasing pressure on the organs in the abdomen, leading to bowel obstruction and distention.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

The third type of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma which attacks the lining of the chest cavity. It is not a common type of cancer. It can cause symptoms like:

Pericardial effusion may also occur in pericardial mesothelioma. It is the accumulation of liquid in the lining of the chest cavity which may cause difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. The patient may also complain of irregular heartbeat which is caused due to liquid accumulation in the chest. Persistent cough along with blood may also occur. Pericardial mesothelioma can also lead to lung cancer.

Some of these symptoms can help you identify mesothelioma. Some patients show no symptoms of their mesothelioma which makes it more difficult to diagnose. The exact symptoms will often depend on the area where mesothelioma affects which will help you identify mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form cancer inflicting some people. Not all countries report cases of the disease. But did you know that there are reported cases of mesothelioma and granuloma among feline creatures?

Feline granuloma and mesothelioma are much more rare than human mesothelioma. However, experts and researchers are turning more curious and interested about the subject as years go by. That is because there are too many questions and factors that must be resolved and answered about feline cases of granuloma and mesothelioma.

But first, it would be better if you would have a briefer of what granuloma and mesothelioma are. For sure, your interest and curiosity would be further aroused if you find out the known causes for the disease. You might ask the question, ‘How do cats acquire such ailments?’

Granuloma and mesothelioma

In medical terms, granuloma and mesothelioma are two different terms and diseases for living organisms like mammals. To make it simple, there is a clear distinction between the two. Granuloma is non-cancerous or is often described as benign, while mesothelioma in contrast is most of the time malignant, or cancerous, and would often lead to the death of the individual.

While both the diseases affect tissues within the internal organs of the body, there is still basic differences. One, granuloma is considered a form of a serious infection and can easily be treated. Second, granuloma is not as severe as mesothelioma.

For its part, mesothelioma is often malignant and death-causing. Although prognosis, or rate or chances of survival, is possible, most of the reported cases end up in death of the diagnosed patient.

To understand mesothelioma better, try to comprehend its causes and other problems associated with it.

Mesothelioma, in focus

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the mesothelial tissue or the sac lining in the chest. Researches have found that asbestos when exposed to air disintegrates into very miniscule fibers that can be inhaled without people being aware of it.

Once the asbestos fibers reach the lungs, they enter the mesothelila tissues and accumulate. The process would not create significant adverse results overnight. Experts estimate that it should take about two months of exposure before a person accumulates sufficient asbestos fibers to develop a tumor that would eventually lead to mesothelioma.

Another striking fact about mesothelioma is that it does not occur in an asbestos-exposed person until about 20 to 30 years after the exposure. That is the main reason why on the average, mesothelioma patients are aged about 50 years to 70 years.

Thus, people exposed to asbestos would not abruptly feel and bear the effects of exposure to the substance until a significant amount of time. That way, in the past, people diagnosed with mesothelioma had not readily linked the disease to their possible exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma in cats

Feline mesothelioma, therefore, is another case. Is feline mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure? If that is so, then the owner of the cat is also at risk of developing mesothelioma in the future because he might also be of exposed to the substance.

In cats, mesothelioma could be disgnosed of the cat is aged seven to ten years. Most common symptom is drastic and sudden loss in weight.

Veterinarians are still researching on what may cause feline mesothelioma and granuloma, although some suggest that it may be caused by substances in cat litter boxes. The dusts in the litter boxes may contain little amount of asbestos, although this ideas is still to be verified.

Often, cats diagnosed with feline mesothelioma or feline granuloma end up dying. That is because animals are hard to treat because of the complexity of their structures. Many vets also ask cat owners with to just let consent for biopsy so the cat could contribute well to current research about feline mesothelioma and granuloma.

Euthanasia is not an issue among sick animals, although animal rights advocates could openly oppose the idea. If your cat is diagnosed with mesothelioma or granuloma and there is only less chance of prognosis, make the decision to donate the cat instead for biopsy. That way, at least the cat died for good purposes.