There are many differences between malignant and benign mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that impacts the mesothelium, which is the thin tissue that covers most of your internal organs. Benign mesothelioma, on the other hand, generally consists of abnormal growths or tumors that do not spread.
These medical conditions both require medical treatment, but one is a progressive disease with no cure, while the other is not. As a result, the treatment protocols for these conditions differ substantially. The prognosis for these conditions also varies widely according to whether the mesothelioma is malignant or benign.
Defining Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma refers to irregular growths on the mesothelium, which is a lining made up of thin tissue that covers many of your internal organs. The mesothelium produces a special fluid that lubricates internal organs and helps them slide against one another. For example, the pleura is a type of mesothelium that lines the cavity in your chest that contains your lungs. The fluid that the pleura produces makes it easier for you to breathe by allowing your lungs to expand and contract.
Although it can occur in other places in the body, mesothelioma occurs most often in the chest and stomach. In some cases, the excess growth of cells on the mesothelium is benign, meaning they are non-cancerous and relatively harmless. Benign tumors do not replicate and spread to other parts of the body like cancer cells can. In other cases, however, the cells become cancerous, resulting in malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment
According to Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of mesothelioma depend on where the abnormal cells are present in the body. In the case of pleural mesothelioma—which is located in the lung cavity—common symptoms include chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath, among others. Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the stomach lining (also known as the peritoneum), can result in nausea, abdominal pain, and abdominal swelling. If mesothelioma is present elsewhere in the body, the symptoms may be different from those of pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms can also vary from one person to the next.
Treatment depends on the location of the mesothelioma, the stage of the disease, and your overall health. Mesothelioma is an aggressive disease that patients and doctors often do not detect until it is very advanced and has spread throughout the body. As a result, mesothelioma may be fatal in many cases. However, some patients can benefit from surgery (particularly in the case of benign mesothelioma), chemotherapy, and radiation.
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Malignant Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma consists of clumps of cancerous cells that spread rapidly. This occurs most often around the lungs and stomach, although it can also occur around the heart and reproductive organs. The rapid spread of the disease—or metastasis—causes it to affect other major body systems and organs.
Doctors initially conduct diagnostic testing to determine how far the malignant mesothelioma has spread throughout the body. This testing may consist of biopsies, CT scans, MRIs, and/or PET scans. Cancer stages range from one to four, with Stage 1 being the least serious and Stage 4 being the most serious. The stage depends primarily on how widespread the malignant mesothelioma is throughout the body. Based on the patient’s stage, doctors can then determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Benign Mesothelioma
The major difference between malignant and benign mesothelioma is that one type is cancerous, and the other is not. The Cleveland Clinic states that benign mesothelioma consists of fibrous, non-cancerous tumors that often occur in the pleura, or the lining surrounding the lungs and chest cavity. These tumors do not metastasize or spread to other parts of the body. Benign cysts may also grow on the peritoneum, which is the lining of the stomach, or in the lining of the reproductive organs of both men and women.
Generally, surgery is the recommended treatment for benign mesothelioma tumors. Although not cancerous, they can cause the same symptoms as malignant mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath and coughing. In other cases, even when the tumors are relatively large, patients may not have any symptoms. Some benign tumors can recur following surgery, but others do not.
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Understand Mesothelioma and Your Legal Options
When you or a loved one receives a mesothelioma diagnosis, you likely feel overwhelmed, concerned, and unsure what to do next. If you were exposed to asbestos in your workplace that caused your mesothelioma, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your injuries.
The attorneys of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can analyze your situation and determine if you have any means of legal recourse. To learn more, call us today at (800) 307-3113 to schedule a free case review.
Malignant mesothelioma can compromise the health of a person’s entire body, as its tumors work to travel to the lymph nodes and elsewhere. Benign mesothelioma, comparatively and as discussed in Case Reports in Pathology (CRIPa), sees the generation of those same tumors but without their cancerous intent. This means that a person with benign mesothelioma may still have tumors in the lungs or abdomen, but those tumors should not spread throughout the rest of the body.
About Malignant Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma, according to the American Cancer Society, is most often caused by exposure to asbestos. A person can come into contact with asbestos on private property throughout the United States. Although there are some restrictions on the use of this material, asbestos is still allowed, although unpassed bills like The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 have tried to prohibit asbestos.
Asbestos or asbestos-related products may be found in:
- Flooring
- Insulation
- Paint
- Electrical wiring
- Car parts
- Soil purchased from the store
- Roofing
After inhaling or swallowing asbestos particles, they can move throughout a person’s body and cause scars to develop within the lungs, abdomen, and diaphragm. As the scars grow more sensitive, the DNA of those cells can mutate. The cells can then start to multiply to the point where they begin to put pressure on a person’s organs or otherwise make day-to-day functions difficult to perform.
The symptoms of malignant mesothelioma may include:
- Pain in the stomach
- Difficulty breathing
- Tightness in the chest
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
- Muscle atrophy
About Benign Mesothelioma
Benign mesothelioma can generate for the same reasons as malignant mesothelioma. The cells can mutate as a result of exposure to asbestos or related products. However, malignant mesothelioma’s tumors are cancerous. Benign mesothelioma’s tumors do not try to spread throughout a person’s body. While they can still form in the lining of the lungs or in the lining around the abdomen, they do not spread to the lymph nodes or otherwise make it difficult for a person to function from day to day.
This does not mean that benign mesothelioma is a condition to be taken lightly. However, it does mean that those individuals diagnosed with it will not have to worry about losing functionality in other parts of their body or facing a terminal illness.
Other differences between the two diagnoses include:
- Rates of occurrence, as malignant mesothelioma is more common than benign mesothelioma
- Treatment, as benign mesothelioma does not require aggressive chemotherapy or radiation like malignant mesothelioma does
- Survival time, as those individuals with benign mesothelioma have a much higher rate of survival than those with malignant mesothelioma
Your Legal Options After a Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Malignant mesothelioma develops as a result of exposure to asbestos. If you believe that another party may be responsible for your or a loved one’s exposure, you can work with the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to pursue compensation for injuries, expenses, and losses. Call (800) 307-3113 today for a free consultation.
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