The pleura is the outer lining that surrounds your lungs. This lining allows your lungs have flexibility when you breathe in or out. After exposure to asbestos, a tumor may eventually develop in this area creating what is known as pleural mesothelioma. This is common if asbestos material has been inhaled either by mining it or doing work in a factory that utilizes it in a product.

The pericardium contains all of the hearts blood vessels and arteries. This membrane separates the heart from the rest of the chest cavity and ensures it has greater protection. On occasion, asbestos can go from the lungs to the heart through the bloodstream and tumors can develop. This is a really dangerous place for a tumor to develop and is recognized as pericardial mesothelioma.

The peritoneum is the large outer lining that protects all of the organs in your abdominal cavity. This is the least likely place for a tumor to develop from asbestos but is very dangerous if it does occur. This is known as peritoneal mesothelioma.

If you or someone you know have ever been around someone who worked with asbestos, it wouldn’t hurt to tell your doctor and have some tests run. Like most cancer, Mesothelioma is treatable and surgery and chemotherapy are just a couple of the available options.

To be in the “at risk” category, chances are you had to have come into contact with asbestos at one time or another. Asbestos is a mass of flexible fibrous substance which is naturally found in the Earth. For many years ?t had been found in common products such as roofing shingles, brake pads, cement, flooring, and insulating material. The mining process along with the plants that manufactured products containing asbestos are the top contributors to mesothelioma.

Unfortunately, many more people come into contact than simply the laborers. Their families are also at great risk because the particles come home on clothing and may get all over the place. Laundry is a big factor. Anybody who has handled the clothing of the workers is at risk too. Including commercial laundry facilities as well as family homes.

Asbestos was almost completely banned in 1989 but it’s been in use since the late 1800s and peaked with World War II. Mesothelioma takes from 20 to 50 years to show up so a lot of people today are feeling the effects from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. An X-ray, CT scan, or MRI can advise you if you have mesothelioma. For those who have ever been around asbestos, it’s a good idea to mention that to your physician.

When mesothelioma cells are found in the abdomen the diagnosis is Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which is the second most common diagnosis of all Mesothelioma  cases.  It usually occurs in about 10 to 20 percent of all cases of this type of cancer.  Even though it is the second most common form it is still a fairly rare form of malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Peritoneum gains its name from the membranes lining the abdominal organs.  These membranes are known as the mesothelial lining.  These peritoneum consists of two layers.  The parietal layer is the outer layer and the visceral layer which covers the internal organs and the intestines.

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It is believed that exposure to asbestos is a primary cause of peritoneal mesothelioma.  In fact the National Cancer Institute claims that as much as 8 out of 10 cases of all mesothelioma cases stem directly from exposure to asbestos.