What is pericardial mesothelioma?

A rather rare variation of the cancer mesothelioma is the so called pericardial mesothelioma, which is a very serious heart condition, caused by the build up of cancerous cells on the lining that surrounds the organ. Like peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma, this form is a fatal, too, as a cure is yet to be found.

What are the causes of pericardial mesothelioma and who is at risk of contracting it?

Consistent with all other types of mesothelioma, the pericardial variation is caused by exposure to asbestos, respectively, its toxic dust fibers. Mesothelioma is primarily seen as an occupational disease. The highest risk group consists of individuals who ingest or inhale the toxic particles while handling the material. This explains why the majority of all diagnosed individuals are construction workers or employees of asbestos manufacturing companies. Unfortunately, anybody who gets in contact (like family members) with a person that is exposed to asbestos is automatically at a higher risk of contracting the condition, too. Asbestos workers, for example, might have the toxic fibers stuck to their hair, clothes and shoes and therefore might pass them on to their family members.

What are the signs and symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma?

There is no consistent pattern for the symptoms of this disease. The most commonly seen signs include persistent dry coughing, blood in the sputum, difficulties in breathing and shortness of breath, and mild to severe chest pain. Other, less frequently observed symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite and loss of weight.

Are there effective treatments for pericardial mesothelioma?

There is a number of different treatment protocols available, however, none of which has a high success rate. The treatments include radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs are designed to kill the cancer cells, however, most often come with severe side effects. Radiation is a delicate approach in the treatment of this form of mesothelioma, considering that a number of vital organs might get negatively affected. Dual therapy is another term which means to combine chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery can be done in two different ways and depend on the stage of the disease and the overall condition of the patient. Invasive surgery is done to remove cancerous tissue at the site of the tumor, which is obviously an extremely difficult endeavor. Palliative procedures such as draining excess fluid off the cancer site can help in the pain management of the illness.

What is the amount and intensity of asbestos exposure to potentially contract pericardial mesothelioma?
It all depends on the general health condition of the individual and the concentration of asbestos he is exposed to. Generally, an individual needs to be exposed over a longer stretch of time and on a regular basis to develop an asbestos induced disease.

What is the typical prognosis for pericardial mesothelioma?

Like other cancers, the earlier the condition is being found, the better are the treatment options. A huge determining factor is whether or not the cancer has already spread to other sites inside the body. At later stages, the treatment is very difficult and therefore the outlook on survival rather limited. Scientists and pharmaceutical companies continue to research in more effective treatments for mesothelioma.

What about alternative treatments for mesothelioma?

There is only very little data available regarding alternative treatments. However, there are cases where a change in diet and lifestyle has shown some remarkable results and the few mesothelioma survivors all have one thing in common: they changed their nutrition to a whole food, plant based diet added with natural supplements. Either way, it is important to seek the appropriate medical advice from reputable health care professionals in order to establish a safe and effective treatment protocol when diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma.