Many people suffering from this disease usually have long exposure to asbestos. In some cases, instead of attaching themselves to the pleura or peritoneal cavity, asbestos fibers that are either inhaled or ingested, may enter the bloodstream and make their way into the heart where they attach themselves to the pericardium. Over the years, usually a decade or so, healthy cells become malignant cancer cells. As the cells in the pericardium divide at a rapid rate, the pericardial membrane thickens and fluid builds up between the layers putting a lot of pressure on the heart.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Most patients suffering from pericardial mesothelioma don’t feel any symptoms until the disease have progressed into a more serious stage. Often, patients and doctors mistake these symptoms with other heart conditions. Since this type of cancer is very rare, diagnosis and detection is very difficult. Patients who have this illness may feel chest pain, heart murmurs, palpitations, breathing problems, cough, fever, and fatigue. Initial diagnosis of this disease is often done during physical examination where the patients reveal the symptoms felt, his medical history and current medical conditions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an effective way of evaluating the progression of the disease. The last step in the prognosis of this disease is biopsy to confirm the existence of malignant cells and to determine the point of origin.
Most of the patients suffering from pericardial cancer do not satisfy the health requirements to undergo surgery. However, in very rare cases where the disease is detected early, surgery can be done to remove small and localized tumors. This type of treatment involves a lot of risks because of the tumors’ proximity to the heart. Radiation and chemotherapy are also dangerous choice as vital organs such as the heart cannot be expose to excessive amounts of radiation. Patients who have this disease are often given palliative treatments to help them endure the pain and improve their quality of life. One form of palliative treatment is by draining the fluid build-up in the tissues of the pericardium. This process can improve the health condition of the patients for several weeks or sometimes months. Pericardial cancer is a terminal disease. About 50 to 60 percent of the patients with this disease usually die within six months after the initial diagnosis. Only one case has been reported where in a patient was able to survived one year after the initial diagnosis.
As pericardial mesothelioma is directly linked to asbestos exposure, people who are affected with this disease have the right to ask for monetary compensation from employers who placed them in working conditions where asbestos exposure inevitable. People can reimburse the doctors and hospitals’ fees. It is important to consider the risks involve when looking for a job.
