User:Mesothelomia

What is Mesothelioma? Many of the cavities of body’s major organs including the heart, lungs, the abdomen, and the internal reproductive organs of the female body are covered by a protective membrane called mesothelium. The mesothelium is known by different names, depending on what type of organ it covers. The mesothelium lining the heart is called as pericardium, the mesothelium covering the lungs is known as pleura and the mesothelium of the heart is known as pericardium. The mesothelium is a two-layered membrane. Its inner layer immediately surrounds the organ, and the outer layer is a sac covering the body wall. The primary function of the mesothelium is to produce a lubricating fluid in order to facilitate movement of organs and prevent friction while they function (such as the beating of heart and the contraction of lungs).

When the cells of the mesothelium divide abnormally or show uncontrolled growth then invade and damage other tissues and organ, this condition is called mesothelioma. Mesothelomia, or cancer of the mesothelium, is a rare type of cancer, accounting for only 3% of the total number of cancer diagnoses in the US. Most cases of mesothelioma, or cancer of the mesothelium, often begin at the pleura.

Approximately, there are 2,000 to 3,000 diagnosed cases of mesothelioma in the US each year. This number represent 30% of mesothelioma cases diagnosed yearly worldwide. Mesothelioma is also 5 times more frequent in men than in women, and more frequent in people aged 65 and above.

All types of malignant mesothelioma are incurable. Because mesothelioma is often diagnosed late in its advance stage, prognosis is often poor. The average rate of post-diagnosis survival is 1 year. There are those who survive for 3 – 5 years, but they are a slim 9% of the entire mesothelioma diagnosed cases.