By Emily Walsh at Mesothelioma.com
February is American Heart Month, which seeks to raise awareness for the leading cause of death in the United States: Heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease, however, heart disease is not the only threat to the heart. From the more common heart cancer to the incredibly rare pericardial mesothelioma, threats to the health of one’s heart are all around.
What is Pericardial Mesothelioma?
Pericardial mesothelioma occurs when dangerous and microscopic asbestos fibers settle in the pericardium, a thin membrane that lines the heart. This form of mesothelioma is extremely rare, accounting for only 1-2 percent of mesothelioma cases per year, or about 50 patients diagnosed annually.
Tumors in the lungs and abdomen will often form first, with pericardial tumors developing secondarily and exacerbating the condition. Life expectancy for pericardial mesothelioma is bleak, with the median survival period at only six months past diagnosis. Often, the disease is diagnosed during autopsy, and only 10-20 percent of cases are diagnosed while the patient is still alive.
The rarity of pericardial mesothelioma means that it can often be misdiagnosed or present itself as other illnesses, which amplifies the difficulty of successful treatment. Sometimes this cancer will initially present as pericardial constriction or masses in the pericardium. According to a study published by the British Institute of Radiology, though rare in the overall sense, pericardial mesothelioma is the most common malignancy of the pericardium.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Treatment and Research
Research around this condition has so far not yielded a standard treatment, though if caught in earlier stages, localized surgery seems to be the most successful option. A study published in the Case reports in oncological medicine journal presented the case of a 68-year-old man dealing with this disease.
One of the greatest difficulties with diagnosing pericardial mesothelioma are the host of non-specific symptoms that do little to indicate the true nature of a patient’s affliction. These symptoms include chest pain, weight loss, difficulty breathing, and night sweats.
In this case, once diagnosed, the patient underwent surgery to remove the nodule in the pericardium, and remained disease free for two years after the surgery. However, mesotheliomas move rapidly, and the patient experienced local recurrence and died 27 months post surgery.
Talking Through a Rare Diagnosis
These incredibly rare and fast-moving diseases present a unique challenge not only for oncologists, but also for the emotional well-being of patients. Research proves that people diagnosed with chronic physical illness are more likely to develop mental health concerns.
Of course, it is normal for patients to feel shock, anger, sadness, and even grief after receiving a difficult diagnosis. However, it’s important for those close to the patient to monitor these emotions and make sure they don’t cross the line into serious depressive symptoms.
A study from the Western Journal of Medicine found that patients with even mild depression may experience reduced motivation to continue their treatments and medical care plans, which could ultimately result in worsening health conditions.
What You Can Do to Help
For many people, hearing a loved one, neighbor, or coworker has been diagnosed with a serious illness can lead to uncertainty about your role in the situation. Knowing what to do and say can seem like a daunting task.
Offering your time can be the best way of making a patient feel like they can choose what to ask of you. At the beginning they may not feel that help is necessary, or even know what to ask for, but as an illness progresses they may have a better idea. Offering time to cook, look after children, run errands, or other time consuming work can make a treatment process much easier.
Small tasks can feel tedious and overly time consuming to someone who has received life-changing news. Others may feel the need to maintain a sense of normalcy and continue to do these things on their own. Additionally, keep in mind that just because someone brushes off your offers to help at first doesn’t mean they won’t need it down the road.
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