You’ll find that people will often talk about mesothelioma as it relates to a certain part of their body, or the location at which the cancer is found. For instance, they may say that they have mesothelioma of the lungs or of the abdomen.
This is partially right, but there’s an important distinction to be made. The actual tissue that mesothelioma forms in is a sort of thin covering that is designed to protect these internal organs. This is known as mesothelium. In the beginning, the cancer cells are simply in this tissue and not in the organs themselves.
That said, this is an aggressive cancer that often spreads. So it may not stay in the same area where it first developed or may even have already spread by the time it is discovered, but it’s important to know where it begins.
The two different types of mesothelioma
Because of this, mesothelioma can be divided generally into two different types. The less common type is called peritoneal mesothelioma, which happens in the thin layer of tissue around the abdomen. The most common type is known as pleural mesothelioma, and this takes place in the tissue around the lungs. There are also cases in which mesothelioma has been found around the testicles and the heart, but these are rarer still.
What options do you have?
If you’re suffering from this type of aggressive cancer, you need to know about all of the medical options you have, and it’s also wise to consider the legal steps you may be able to take to seek compensation for this treatment, your lost wages and much more.