Symptoms of Mesothelioma of the Heart

Symptoms of Mesothelioma of the Heart.

Of the 3,000 cases of mesothelioma each year, the rarest is mesothelioma of the heart called pericardial mesothelioma. The causes of pericardial mesothelioma is still not fully understood by scientists and doctors. Many scientists believe that asbestos is inhaled and ultimately makes its way to the blood stream however this is still very much a theory.

What is known is that asbestos fibers get stuck in the pericardial membranes of the heart. Over time, the accumalation of these asbestos fibers cause changes in the cells of the pericardium often resulting in cancer. Once these cells become cancerous, the divide and multiply rapidly. As these mesothelioma cells increase in quantity, the pericardial membranes thicken resulting in tumors. This build up puts pressure on the heart.

Since pericardial mesothelioma is so rare, it has been difficult for doctors to create a list of recognizable symptoms. The problem is that symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma resemble symptoms of other heart diseases. If any of the following symptoms are occuring, it is advised that one should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Only a number of specific tests can determine whether mesothelioma of the heart is apparent.

Symptoms of mesothelioma (pericardial mesothelioma) of the heart include:
Heart palpitations
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing (event at rest)
Fever
Night sweats
Fatigue

Mesothelioma Basics

Mesothelioma Basics

Mesothelioma is rare type of cancer that is caused by the exposure of asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been and is still used in various building and construction applications due to its fire-resistant and insulating properties. Asbestos exposure is often caused by inhalation or digestion of microscopic fibers. When the microscopic asbestos brought into the body (most typically through inhalation), the particles attach themselves to the mesothelial lining of the lungs and can also attach themselves to the lining of the heart and abdomen. Many construction workers, shipyard workers, Naval vessel crew, asbestos manufacturing plant workers, power plant workers and chemical plant workers (to name just a few) are typically the ones who develop Mesothelioma due to their exposure to the toxic asbestos.

People can develop Mesothelioma at any age, however, many do not see aparent symptoms until their 70's and 80's. Common therapies for Mesothelioma include radiation therapy, surgery, anticancer drugs, and chemotherapy. Though the effects of asbestos exposure are quite apparent, the United States has yet to ban the manufacture of cancer causing agent.

Causes of Mesothelioma Cancer

Causes of Mesothelioma Cancer

An overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence has proven that the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. The exact method by which asbestos causes mesothelioma is still being researched, but medical professionals have a number of theories:

Asbestos causes irritation and inflammation of mesothelial cells, which results in irreversible scarring, cellular damage, and eventually cancer.Asbestos fibers enter cells and disrupt the function of cellular structures that are essential for normal cell division, causing cellular changes that lead to cancer.
Asbestos causes the production of free radicals. These molecules damage DNA, and cause cells to mutate and become cancerous.

The presence of asbestos causes cells to produce oncoproteins. These molecules cause mesothelial cells to ignore normal cellular division restraints, and s can lead to the development of cancer.

The element that ties each theory together is the fact that asbestos results in cellular damage. This causes cells to lose control over normal cell cycles and results in uncontrollable division. Healthy cells follow cycles of cell division that ensure tissues do not grow and duplicate beyond normal conditions - in cancerous cells, these restraints are lost.

In cases of mesothelioma, the result of the cellular damage is that membranes in the affected location begin to thicken, and fluid builds up in the spaces between membrane layers. As cancer cells continue to divide and pile on top of one another, tumors begin to form. The uncontrolled division of cancer cells results in the impaired function of the body's organs and systems (primarily due to factors such as internal pressure caused by the growth of tumors, and the reduction of essential nutrients for organs), resulting in a number of symptoms.