Pleural mesothelioma is the most common among all types of mesothelioma cancers. It represents about 75% of all diagnosed mesothelioma cases. It is developed due to the presence of asbestos fibers that mostly enter the body through inhaling. These fibers are lodged in the lining of the lung and cause inflammation, over time tumor develops. Lining of the lung is also known as the mesothelium; it surrounds and protects the lung and other organs of the body.
It is an aggressive and critical cancer that is very difficult to diagnose. It is generally considered to be a rare disease but above 2000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States per year. Life expectancy of mesothelioma patients is not very long; patient may be able to survive up to 18 months after being diagnosed. If the patient is diagnosed at the early stage of the cancer there is a better chance of prognosis. Although, there is no proper cure for the disease but variety of treatments is available that can improve the life expectancy and minimize the discomfort of the patient.
Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma appear very late, it may take 15 to 50 years for the symptoms to appear after initial exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are very similar to the symptoms of common illnesses, which is the reason this cancer is often misdiagnosed. The symptoms may include: shortness of breath, chest pain, continuous cough, weight loss, difficulty breathing, nausea and fatigue. Some patients may also experience difficulty swallowing and coughing up blood. Each pleural mesothelioma case is different from the other; patients may experience a combination of all the symptoms or only a few. It is highly recommended that the doctor should be informed if you are of being exposed to asbestos and visit for regular check ups and screening. Otherwise, doctor is very likely to misdiagnose when he is not on the look out for asbestos related diseases.
Causes of Pleural Mesothelioma
Asbestos fibers are the primary factors for causing pleural mesothelioma; these fibers enter the body through inhaling. These may also enter with food and water. A person may also be exposed to asbestos fibers by washing the clothes of someone who has already been exposed. Once these fibers enter the organs it is impossible to remove them, these remain lodged in the lining of the lugs for decades and create irritation which leads to inflammation and over time tumor develops. Slight exposure to asbestos may also be able to cause mesothelioma. People who work at sights where asbestos is present like: construction sites, shipyards and industries are highly prone to developing this disease and there families are also prone to developing mesothelioma through secondary exposure.
Smoking should be avoided if you are exposed to asbestos as it increases the risk of developing pleural mesothelioma. Smoking weakens the lungs and its ability to fight infections.
Diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is very difficult to diagnose, it is often misdiagnosed as flu, cold or bronchitis. The symptoms of this cancer are very similar to the symptoms of other common illnesses. A doctor will require your complete medical history and physical examination report before ordering any tests. He will then order an X-ray which will give a brief glace at the tumor and may also be able to show the pleural effusion (excess fluid in the pleura: fluid space surrounding the lungs). If pleural mesothelioma is detected the doctor will recommend a CT scan. This shows a much clearer picture. MRI scans and PET scans are more sophisticated tests that detect the tumor and its location. If all these tests confirm the presence of the tumor, biopsy will be required to confirm the diagnosis. It is the procedure of taking tissue or fluid sample for analyzing under a microscope.
These tests help to confirm the type of the tumor, its stage or seriousness and location.
Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma
There is no cure for the disease but many treatments options are available for the patient. Treatment of the cancer depends on these factors: age of the patient, general health of the patent and the stage of the tumor. Treatment is likely to be more effective at the early stage of the cancer.
Surgery is a treatment option for patients with early stage mesothelioma. Patients with poorer health conditions are not recommended to under go this treatment. Part or the entire tumor is removed during surgery; the excess fluid may also be removed during this procedure.
Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for mesothelioma patients. This is not very affected when used alone; it works best in combination with other treatments like surgery. Chemotherapy medicine helps to reduce the tumor before surgery.
Radiation therapy or radio therapy also helps to shrink the size of the tumor with high energy x-rays. There are many side effects of radiation and older patients may not be able to endure this harsh treatment. Combination of all these three treatments is able to help healthy and young patients.
Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis
The five year mesothelioma survival rate is 10% but it is slowly improving. Many patients live longer than five years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Just like all other cancer, early treatment is likely to help increase the life expectancy of the patient. Age of the patient, their general health and latency period are the factors that affect the prognosis of the cancer.