Mesothelioma pleura is the most common form of mesothelioma by far and accounts for 75% of all mesothelioma cases. mesothelioma pleura affects the respiratory areas of the body such as the lungs. More specifically, the cancer attacks the lining of the lungs and ribs called the pleura hence the name mesothelioma pleura.
The main cause of mesothelioma pleura is exposure to asbestos. Only a couple of months of being exposed to the deadly dust and fibres of asbestos without protection can lead to mesothelioma pleura thirty to fifty years later. Elderly men of ages sixty to seventy are those most at risk to asbestos because this was the generation which worked with asbestos with little protection from the dust and fibres. Due to the long latency period of mesothelioma pleura (30-50 years), these men are only just discovering they have the deadly cancer. Currently, many of these men are lodging million dollar lawsuits against the companies who exposed them to asbestos. Asbestos fibres get into the lining of the lungs by inhalation and become lodged inside the lungs.
mesothelioma pleura
The symptoms that are associated with mesothelioma pleura include persistent coughing, difficulty swallowing, facial swelling, weight loss, fever, rasping and coughing up blood. Patients may additionally experience shortness of breath because as the tumour on the lining of the lungs expands, this leaves less room for the lungs to function properly. Some patients also begin to feel severe pains in their chest and this is due to the spreading of cancerous cells. A lot of these symptoms are similar to diseases and conditions which are far more common than mesothelioma which means that mesothelioma pleura is often very difficult to diagnose until it is too late.
Treatment of mesothelioma pleura is limited and as yet there is no proper cure. Research is being conducted in labs all over the United States and many pharmaceutical companies are also testing for new treatments. Treatments for mesothelioma pleura include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. A patient’s age, medical record, weight and other such factors are taken into account before treatment. Generally, chance of survival is far more likely if mesothelioma pleura is treated aggressively in its early stages because once the cancer has developed and matured it is very difficult to cure.
