Mesothelioma Resources

Pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare form of mesothelioma. It affects the pericardial membrane that surrounds and protects the heart. Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are similar to other forms, although heart palpitations are more common. If left untreated, the disease can constrict the heart as the pericardium unnaturally expands and cause cardiac failure. Because it is diagnosed so late, the prognosis can be extremely poor – from six weeks to 15 months. When the cancer is detected early, or still localized in a small area, surgery can be very effective. Radiation therapy tends to be less effective with pericardial mesothelioma, and chemotherapy shows mixed results.

The main reason for the low survival rate of pericardial mesothelioma is the tardiness of the diagnosis. If it’s possible to diagnose early, there are number of steps that can be taken to increase the chance of survival. If possible, those who have been exposed to asbestos in the past and are still asymptomatic should go to a doctor to receive regular pulmonary and cardiac examinations to check for irregularities. More treatment options are viable at an early stage, including possibly surgery to remove the affected area of the pericardium if it is still isolated. [Brandon: hot link treatment options to our article on treatment options] Taking care of your health, including avoiding unnecessary infections, is also critical to living as well as possible with this disease.