Mesothelioma Facts For Your Knowledge Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that attacks the mesothelium. Mesothelioma cancer is of three types. The first one attacks the lining protecting the cavity around the lungs. It is called the pleural mesothelioma. The second is known as the Peritoneal mesothelioma. The third form, which is the most malicious, attacks the protective lining of the heart. The prognosis, therapy (including types of chemotherapy) and treatment choices are similar whether the cancer is pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the least common type of mesothelioma, appearing in only 30% of diagnosed cases, some 100 to 500 cases annually. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the abdominal lining, or peritoneum (paira-tin-e-um). In addition to determing a diagnosis, many diagnostic test also help determine the stage the cancer is in, providing a better idea of a patient's prognosis.
