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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010

Key Mesothelioma Terms to Help with Your Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a rare, serious and aggressive cancer that normally occurs in the lungs and is conclusively linked to exposure to asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.

As with any disease, when you are first diagnosed, the medical jargon can be confusing and can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Understanding your doctor and medical team is critical to ensuring that you are comfortable with your treatment and that you feel you are included when making decisions.

As a reference, following are some key terms that you may hear early in your mesothelioma diagnosis.

Alimta. A chemotherapy drug developed by Eli Lilly specifically for mesothelioma patients.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy. Surgery to remove a diseased lung, part of the pericardium (membrane covering the heart), part of the diaphragm (muscle between the lungs and the abdomen), and part of the parietal pleura (membrane lining the chest). This type of surgery is used most often to treat malignant mesothelioma.

Latency period. The time between the actual exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma.

Mesothelial cells. Specialized cells that form the mesothelium.

Mesothelium. The protective membrane that surrounds the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, the cavity around the heart, and the internal reproductive organs.

Metastasis. Spread of disease from the original site in the body to other sites.

Palliative Treatment. Therapy that relieves symptoms, such as pain or blockage, but is not expected to cure the cancer. Its main purpose is to improve the patient’s quality of life.

Pericardial Mesothelioma. Cancer of the protective membrane that surrounds the heart. One of the rarest forms of mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Cancer of the protective membrane that surrounds the abdomen. The second most diagnosed form of mesothelioma.

Pleura. The thin covering that protects and cushions the lungs. The pleura is made up of two layers of tissue that are separated by a small amount of fluid. The most common site for mesothelioma.

Pleural Effusion. An abnormal collection of fluid between the thin layers of tissue pleura) lining the lung and the wall of the chest cavity.

Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancer of the pleura (membrane lining the lungs and chest cavity). Pleural mesothelioma is different from lung cancer. Lung cancer refers to any type of malignant tumor that originates in the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma effects the pleura.

Resection. Surgical removal of a diseased portion of a tissue.

For more information on mesothelioma and your treatment, order a free copy of “100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma.”