Pericardial Mesothelioma affects the heart, and is the least common form of Mesothelioma. Pericardial Mesothelioma attacks the pericardium, the sac the surrounds the heart.

As the Pericardial Mesothelioma progresses, the heart is not able to effeciently deliver oxygen to the body, and declines the health of the Pericardial Mesothelioma patient in an increasingly rapid rate. The symptoms associated with Pericardial Mesothelioma mimic those of a heart attack. Which include nausea, pain in the chest, and shortness of breath.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma orginates in the abdomen, and often spreads to other organs in the area, including the liver, spleen, and bowel. Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients most commonly report severe abdominal pain as an initial symptom. Fluid build up in the abdomen may also cause additional pain for Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients. Other additional symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma include fever, swollen feet, nausea and vomiting, and difficulty during bowel movements.

The survival rate of Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients is the worst of all types of Mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients typically only survive ten months from the initial onset of symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma often originates within the chest and sometimes can involve the lungs. Pleural Mesothelioma frequently mestasizes to many other organs in the body, including the brain.

Pleural Mesothelioma is not easily diagnosed as the symptoms are frequently mild in the early stages of the disease. Pleural Mesothelioma patients usually report constant pain in the chest, weight loss, and fever. Occasionaly, some Pleural Mesothelioma patients report more severe symtoms, which can include problems breathing due to fluid build up in the chest. A CT Scan of the chest area has proven to be the best test to gauge how for long Pleural Mesothelioma has progressed.

The survival rate for Pleural Mesothelioma patients is rather low. Typically, Pleural Mesothelioma patients do not live beyond seventeen months from the onset of symptoms.

Malignant Mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos related diseases, and an extrememly uncommon form of cancer. The relatively unknown symptoms associated with Malignant Mesothelioma make it a very difficult disease for Doctors to diagnose.

Usually by the time the initial diagnosis is made, Malignant Mesothelioma has progressed to a point where patients no longer respond well to treatments. Malignant Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by the inhalation of airborne asbestos particles. With Malignant Mesothelioma there can often be a long latency period between when the individual is exposed to the asbestos and when the disease manifests itself in the human body.

An estimated 2,500 to 3,000 new cases of Mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Even though Mesothelioma is a comparatively uncommon disease, projections show that its incidence rate is expected to rise significantly over the next decade.

On average, the first diagnosis of Mesothelioma occurs between 50 to 70 years of age. Mesothelioma often affects more men than woman mostly due to increased occupational exposure. Mesothelioma is more common in white Americans compared to African Americans.

Due to the fact that Mesothelioma is difficult to detect in its early stages, the disease is often advanced upon its first diagnosis by Doctors. Therefore, using current available treatments, the average survival period is approximately one year. Fortunately, when Mesothelioma is found early and treated aggressively, the chances of reaching the two year survival point increase significantly. Approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with Mesothelioma are able to reach a five year survival rate.

Patients who live at least five years after being diagnosed with Mesothelioma have a very good chance of living a productive life for many more years. As the treatment protocols and therapies for Mesothelioma continue to advance, we can expect survival rates for those diagnosed to improve as well.