Mesothelioma Glossary

Alveoli: tiny air sacs present in the lungs that help in oxygen/blood exchange. Alveoli are the cells that are mostly affected by asbestosis

Asbestos: the name given to 6 naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are used in insulation, construction and various other industries for their fire resistant property

Asbestosis: scarring and damaging of the lung tissues caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers and dust or asbestos exposure

Benign: a condition that is not dangerous or life threatening

Biopsy: removal of the abnormal tissues or cells with help of a needle to check for cancerous growth in that particular area of the body

Bronchoscopy: a thin lighted tube called bronchoscope is inserted through the nose or mouth to examine the breathing passage at the entrance of lungs

Butchart staging system: staging system with I to IV stages, to judge the stages of mesothelioma cancer depending on the scarring of the tissues

Cancer: abnormal or uncontrolled cell growth that is caused by mutation of cellular DNA. Cancer is benign or malignant/fatal

Chemotherapy: a form of cancer treatment by drugs given in form of pills or injected in the veins. It helps to kill the cancerous cells

CT scan: a type of x-ray that takes cross sections pictures of the body and shows mesothelioma affected areas

Curative treatment: treatment that aims to produce a cure of the disease

Gene therapy: of mesothelioma treatment that affects the way the body recognizes cancer

Immunotherapy: a new kind of treatment that induces a pro-inflammatory response

Latency period: the time period between the actual exposure to a harmful agent like asbestos and the appearance of cancer symptoms like mesothelioma

Malignant: cancerous growth of cells that can prove fatal if not controlled on time

Mesothelium: tissues formed by the special cells lining the chest, abdominal cavities and lungs. Mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that helps organs to move freely

Mesothelioma: a cancer of the lining of the lungs, chest and stomach caused by inhalation of asbestos dust and fibers or asbestos exposure

Metastasize: a cancerous growth that invades a healthy organ or tissue from an already affected organ

Multimodal therapy: use of more than one kind of treatments to kill the mesothelioma cells

Pericardium: the lining of the chest or the sac that contains the heart and produces fluid that allows the heart to beat easily

Peritoneum: the lining that surrounds the abdominal cavity or the stomach and secretes fluid needed to ensure proper movement of stomach and intestine

Pleura: the lining of the lungs that secretes a fluid which allows the lungs to move as they inhale and exhale

PET scan: (Positron Emission Tomography Scan); a procedure in which a small amount of radioactive glucose is injected in the body and a scanner is used to make detailed pictured of the area where glucose is injected to detect the cancer cells

Pleural effusion: accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lungs and the chest cavity that causes pain and shortness of breath

Radiation therapy: use of high energy rays to destroy the mesothelioma cells inside the body

Vermiculite: a naturally occurring mineral used for insulation and other purposes. Sometimes vermiculite is contaminated with asbestos that can cause asbestos related diseases