Add To FavoritesPleural Mesothelioma
The form of cancer known as pleural mesothelioma is rare, but can be extremely difficult to treat. Its only known cause is asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma affects the pleura-the lining in the chest cavity around the outside of the lungs. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma often do not appear for 20-40 years after exposure to asbestos, although they may manifest as soon as ten years following exposure. Pleural mesothelioma victims tend to be males, ages 50-70.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma initially appear very similar to those of a common cold or other minor respiratory infection, making the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma difficult in the early stages. Shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, and occasionally a fever or weight loss are all early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. As the condition worsens, the symptoms become more acute and include pain in the abdomen, a severe cough and restrictive breathing. If pleural mesothelioma is suspected, the physician will usually order X-rays or a CT scan. If the chest images show possible tumors, a confirmation of pleural mesothelioma can be obtained through a procedure known as thoracoscopy, where a small instrument is inserted into the chest cavity to look for tumors. If the pleural mesothelioma has caused fluid to build up in the pleurum, an additional procedure known as a throacentesis may be conducted at the same time. A throacentesis allows the doctor to drain the fluid from the pleurum of a pleural mesothelioma patient, aiding in diagnosis and alleviating symptoms such as restricted breathing.
If a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is reached, the next step is to "stage" the cancer. Staging is a procedure used by doctors to determine the severity of the cancer and the requisite level of treatment, if any is possible. A Stage I case of pleural mesothelioma is the least invasive and has the best chance for positive response to treatment. Pleural mesothelioma in Stages II-V is considered advanced and typically is inoperable. Most pleural mesothelioma cases are not discovered until they have moved into later stages.
The first option for treatment of pleural mesothelioma is surgery: either palliative surgery, which is designed to relieve the painful symptoms of pleural mesothelioma caused by the buildup of fluids or tumor growth; or aggressive surgery, which aims to remove as much as possible of the tumor to attempt a cure. Pleural mesothelioma patients, due to their typically advanced age and late diagnosis, usually are only eligible for palliative surgery, which is designed to make the patient as comfortable as possible without attempting to cure the cancer. Pleural mesothelioma is extremely difficult to operate on, and the odds are low for a successful removal of all of the cancer. If there is an attempt at a cure of the pleural mesothelioma, surgery is usually combined with radiology, chemotherapy, or both.
The survival rate for victims of pleural mesothelioma is very low, but treatments are constantly improving, and patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma should not give up hope, as new technologies and treatments hold great promise. Because pleural mesothelioma has been proven to result from asbestos exposure, patients diagnosed with this disease may be eligible for medical benefits and other expenses associated with their disease. pleural mesothelioma victims and their loved ones should talk to an attorney who has experience representing persons affected by pleural mesothelioma to learn more about the civil laws regulating such cases.