Benign multicystic mesothelioma is a form of non-cancerous mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, a protective membrane that protects and lines most of the body's internal organs, such as the lungs and the heart.
It produces a fluid that lubricates the organs and prevents friction when they move against other internal organs in the body.
The lungs, for example, can expand and contract during breathing without the danger of it getting worn or torn once it rubs against other structures.
As a form of cancer, Mesothelioma is considered uncommon whether or not it is malignant or benign.
Benign multicystic mesothelioma affects the peritoneal tissue of the abdomen.
This is the lining that surrounds organs like the bowel, spleen and the liver.
It may also affect the pleura, the lining that covers the lungs.
A person with this disease will develop tumors in the affected areas.
If the tumors grow, they will cause difficulty in breathing or cause pain in the abdomen because of the added pressure placed on the lungs or in the stomach cavity.
Symptoms Making a diagnosis of benign multicystic mesothelioma is always a challenge because a patient can appear to be without any symptoms.
However, there are certain symptoms that may point to the disease such as, chest or abdominal pain, chronic cough, difficulty in breathing or in moving bowels, shortness of breath, fever, nausea, vomiting, anemia, swollen feet, fluid build-up in the lungs or in the abdominal area and unexplained weight loss.
These symptoms appear once the infection begins to spread or when the tumors grow too big.
Complications may also occur once fluid escapes into the pleura of the lungs and may pose a serious health risk.
Causes As with the malignant form of mesothelioma, the cause of benign multicystic mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.
This places workers involved in industries and occupations where asbestos is produced or used at a high risk of developing the disease.
This includes people whose occupations belong to certain industries such as construction, demolition, automobile, ship yards, power plants, steel mills, oil refineries, factories, railroads and asbestos mining.
Unfortunately, asbestos exposure is not only limited to workers in high-risk industries.
People may also be exposed to asbestos through tainted drinking water, use of products that contain vermiculite such as some pesticides and fertilizers, exposure to some older appliances that contain asbestos or by living with a person who is exposed to the material.
Asbestos fibers can cling to a worker's skin, hair or clothing and he or she may bring it home without even knowing it.
Diagnosis of benign multicystic mesothelioma People suspected of having this disease have to undergo a physical examination.
This will include a chest x-ray and CT scan of the affected areas.
Biopsies of tissue samples taken from the lung or the abdomen will also help in determining whether a person has benign multicystic mesothelioma.
Once a diagnosis has been made, a treatment option will be prescribed.
Prognosis for people with benign multicystic mesothelioma is significantly better compared to those with other forms of mesothelioma.
With early diagnosis and prompt treatment, patients can expect a better outcome compared to people with the malignant form.
Treatment The goal of treating benign multicystic mesothelioma is to remove the cause of the pain or discomfort.
Which treatment options to use will depend on the need for an immediate solution and on the severity of the disease.
In this case, the target of the treatment is to eliminate the tumors.
It's not always possible to eradicate all tumors present in the affected area, but surgical removal will prevent symptoms and alleviate any pain.
Chemotherapy may also be used to target the infected areas.
With radiation therapy, tumors are either shrunk or destroyed using high energy beams.
As a final solution to the disease, it is important that further exposure to asbestos is either limited to such an extreme as to produce only the minimum risk, or to avoid even mild exposure altogether.
Benign multicystic mesothelioma is a highly treatable disease.
If you experience any of the symptoms or have had prior exposure to asbestos, it's always best to consult a doctor for a proper medical evaluation and diagnosis.
This disease may not be cancerous, but it is still a health risk and may prevent you from living your life fully.
You may even want to get in touch with a qualified lawyer to help you obtain compensation for the suffering you have experienced.