Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common type of Mesothelioma which is a rare cancer that develops in the mesothelium. The mesothelium line much of the bodies cavities and organs. Pleural Mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs which is called the pleura or pleural membrane.
Pleural Mesothelioma is caused when asbestos fibers get trapped between the mesothelial cells which make up the pleural mesothelium. Once the toxic asbestos fibers get trapped in the mesothelium it causes cancerous cells to divide in a way that makes the pleural membrane thicken. This thickening causes fluid build up which is called pleural effusion. This fluid build up puts pressure on the entire respiratory system making normal breathing very difficult.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms-
- Dry and/or raspy cough
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Shortness of breath even at times of rest
- Ongoing pain in the chest and/or lungs or painful breathing
- Lumps on the chest under the skin
- Fever and/or night sweats
- Unwanted or unexplained weight loss
- Tiredness or fatigue
Pleural Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because symptoms may not occur for many years after asbestos exposure. Many symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma can easily be confused with less serious illnesses which makes the diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma particularly difficult.
Pleural Mesothelioma diagnosis will most likely involve x-rays and/or CT-scans. The diagnosis procedure for Pleural Mesothelioma will generally begin with acknowledging symptoms and can include x-rays, CT-scans, medical and work history, physical examination, fluid and tissue tests (biopsies).
Even with a thorough examination, it is still possible miss-diagnose Mesothelioma do to the nature of the cancer and it’s tendency to lay dormant for many years.
Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma -
Treating Pleural Mesothelioma will generally include one or more of the following:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
Because Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of Mesothelioma cancer the knowledge and research of this type of cancer is growing steadily as well as new drugs and treatments.
Early detection of Pleural Mesothelioma greatly increases the prognosis opening up more treatment options. Cancer is generally rated in stages ranging from 1 to 4 with 1 being the earliest stage and 4 being the last stage. Pleural Mesothelioma stages 1 and 2 have the greatest possibility for a more positive prognosis with more treatment options generally being surgery to remove tumors followed by chemotherapy or radiation treatment to remove remaining cancer cells.
Some recent studies show that about 10 percent of all Pleural Mesothelioma patients will survive 3 to 5 years following diagnosis and about 5 percent will live 10 years or more following diagnosis.
When pleural Mesothelioma is not diagnosed early, there are fewer treatment option usually limited to surgical procedures to remove the fluid and tumors from the pleural to relieve pressure from the lungs.
Asbestos and Pleural Mesothelioma -
For Pleural Mesothelioma it is generally the case that Asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs where the Asbestos fibers then find their way to the pleural membrane. It is very difficult to expel the fibers from the lung. Over time the fibers cause damage to the cells in the Pleural and can even cause scarring and tumors.
When Pleural cells become cancerous the cells begin to divide and multiply in a rapid and abnormal way causing the Pleural Membrane to thicken. Because of the thickening of the Pleural Membrane, fluid will build up between the Pleural layers and the patient will experience reduced lung capacity.