- Image via Wikipedia
Mesothelioma, like most cancers is named for its location. Mesothelioma is the cancer of the mesothelium – the protective lining that covers many of the body’s internal organs. For example the mesothelium around the lungs enables your lungs to expand and contract easier. When the mesothelium is inflamed it can make breathing difficult and painful.
There are 3 main types of mesothelioma:
- Pleural — 75% of all mesothelioma cases (located in the lining around the lungs)
- Peritoneal — 10%–20% (The lining of the GI tract)
- Pericardial — 5% (located in the lining around the heart)
A relatively new trend in medicine is classifying cancers by their type rather than location.
Lungs showing the effects of Mesothelioma
The three types of Mesothelioma are:
- Epithelioid — most common, best survival rate
- Sarcomatoid — most severe, but more rare
- Mixed/biphasic — a mixture of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cancer