Mesothelioma | Chapter 2

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Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that can develop decades after exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that was once widely used due to its fire resistant and insulating properties, but is no longer mined, milled or manufactured in Australia because of the health risks. All uses in new products are now banned in Australia and no asbestos products may be imported. Strict precautions also govern the removal and disposal of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.

Mesothelioma usually starts in the outer membrane of the lungs (pleura) but can also occur in the membrane lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Uncommonly, the heart or reproductive organs may be affected.

The treatment for mesothelioma depends on whether it is only in one place or has spread. Currently there is no cure for mesothelioma unless it can be removed by an operation. Unfortunately, when mesothelioma is diagnosed, it has usually already spread beyond the point where it could be removed by an operation. Treatment aims to prolong life and keep the person as comfortable as possible.

Symptoms of mesothelioma – lungs

The lungs are wrapped in a thin membrane called the visceral pleura. The chest wall is similarly lined (parietal pleura). These two membranes touch and slide across each other while we breathe, lubricated by a slick of fluid.

Mesothelioma usually develops in only one lung. The tumour tends to grow across the lung until the entire organ is encased. Sometimes cancer cells migrate to lymph nodes and other areas of the body (such as the unaffected lung) via the lymphatic system. Mesothelioma causes the pleura to make more fluid than necessary, which presses on the lung (pleural effusion).

Symptoms include:

Breathlessness

Dry cough

Pain.

Symptoms of mesothelioma – peritoneum

About 10 per cent of mesothelioma cases involve the peritoneum. The peritoneum is a membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal and the pelvic cavities. Swallowed asbestos fibres can move through the stomach wall and cause mesothelioma to develop in the peritoneum.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

Painful abdomen

Swollen abdomen

High temperature

Nausea and vomiting

Bowel problems

Urinary problems.

Symptoms in the later stages

Symptoms in the later stages of the disease include:

Sudden and unexplained weight loss

Spitting up sputum

Spitting up blood