Pleural Mesothelioma: A Guide to Understanding Pleural Cancer - Pleural mesothelioma is again one of the types of mesothelioma associated with exposure to asbestos, especially blue asbestos. Tissue layers comprised of mesothelial cells are found in the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around your heart. These tissues also cover the outer surface of most of our internal organs. The cancer affecting this tissue is called mesothelium and the mesothelium of the chest cavity is known as the Pleural mesothelium, which involves lungs too.
Slow to manifest, it takes 20 to 40 years for Pleural mesothelium to incubate. It is the most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for about 75% of all cases. A patient's prognosis for pleural mesothelioma is influenced by staging, histology, patient age etc.
There are two kinds of pleural mesothelioma: diffuse and malignant (cancerous), and localized and benign (non-cancerous). Benign mesothelioma can often be plucked out surgically. They are neither life-threatening nor are related to asbestos exposure. Malign pleural mesothelioma can occur because of a long-term exposure to Asbestos. Other factors that may contribute towards pleural mesothelioma are chronic lung infections, tuberculous pleuritis radiation (Thorotrast), exposure to the simian virus 40 (SV40) or mineral fibers (Zeolite).
How Pleural mesothelioma become malignant is not yet exactly known. It is not known whether only one fiber causes the tumor or whether it takes many fibers. It seems that asbestos fibers in the pleura can start a tumor as well as promote its growth; nothing else causes the tumor development. Currently the role of asbestos fibers is not known completely.
The spread of the tumor over the lung pleura will thicken it, reducing the flexibility of the pleura and shrinks the lungs cavity. This makes breathing more difficult. The tumor spreads. As it spreads inward it can compress the lungs more. As the tumor spreads outward it can invade the chest wall and ribs, causing extreme pain.
Physicians sometimes chance into the Pleural mesothelium, before there are any symptoms. Routine scans and chest x-rays have, by chance, left the disease diagnosed. The mesothelioma pleural symptom that will occur may include shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, chest pains, lower back pains, persistent coughing, and difficulty in swallowing. The symptoms will appear alone or in combination. An initial medical examination often shows a pleural effusion, an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (the area between the lungs and the chest wall).
For diagnosis, the first step is a chest x-ray or CT scan, after which is bronchoscopy - this involves a viewing scope to look inside the lungs. Fluid build-up from the pleural effusion can generally be seen on a chest x-ray and heard during a physical examination. This is important because there are also benign pleural effusions and other tumors that have a similar appearance to mesothelioma such as pneumonia. The actual diagnosis itself usually requires removing and analyzing a piece of tissue through a biopsy. This could be a needle biopsy, an open biopsy, or through a tube with a camera (thoracoscopy or chest scope.)
A history of asbestos exposure is found in 80 percent of patients who present with mesothelioma. It is better for asbestos exposed persons to go for routine check up. If diagnosed earlier it can be treated with traditional cancer curing methods like chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy etc. and brought under control to a great extent. With proper rest, ventilation, nutrition and prayer, the patient can add more years to his life. Some live for five to ten years after diagnosis, in good health for a majority of those years.
Some mesothelioma victims succumb within a few months, while the average survival time is about a year.This website is only for informational purpose.It is your responsibility to verify the information provided.Always seek legal and/or medical counsel where needed.Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Slow to manifest, it takes 20 to 40 years for Pleural mesothelium to incubate. It is the most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for about 75% of all cases. A patient's prognosis for pleural mesothelioma is influenced by staging, histology, patient age etc.
There are two kinds of pleural mesothelioma: diffuse and malignant (cancerous), and localized and benign (non-cancerous). Benign mesothelioma can often be plucked out surgically. They are neither life-threatening nor are related to asbestos exposure. Malign pleural mesothelioma can occur because of a long-term exposure to Asbestos. Other factors that may contribute towards pleural mesothelioma are chronic lung infections, tuberculous pleuritis radiation (Thorotrast), exposure to the simian virus 40 (SV40) or mineral fibers (Zeolite).
How Pleural mesothelioma become malignant is not yet exactly known. It is not known whether only one fiber causes the tumor or whether it takes many fibers. It seems that asbestos fibers in the pleura can start a tumor as well as promote its growth; nothing else causes the tumor development. Currently the role of asbestos fibers is not known completely.
The spread of the tumor over the lung pleura will thicken it, reducing the flexibility of the pleura and shrinks the lungs cavity. This makes breathing more difficult. The tumor spreads. As it spreads inward it can compress the lungs more. As the tumor spreads outward it can invade the chest wall and ribs, causing extreme pain.
Physicians sometimes chance into the Pleural mesothelium, before there are any symptoms. Routine scans and chest x-rays have, by chance, left the disease diagnosed. The mesothelioma pleural symptom that will occur may include shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, chest pains, lower back pains, persistent coughing, and difficulty in swallowing. The symptoms will appear alone or in combination. An initial medical examination often shows a pleural effusion, an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (the area between the lungs and the chest wall).
For diagnosis, the first step is a chest x-ray or CT scan, after which is bronchoscopy - this involves a viewing scope to look inside the lungs. Fluid build-up from the pleural effusion can generally be seen on a chest x-ray and heard during a physical examination. This is important because there are also benign pleural effusions and other tumors that have a similar appearance to mesothelioma such as pneumonia. The actual diagnosis itself usually requires removing and analyzing a piece of tissue through a biopsy. This could be a needle biopsy, an open biopsy, or through a tube with a camera (thoracoscopy or chest scope.)
A history of asbestos exposure is found in 80 percent of patients who present with mesothelioma. It is better for asbestos exposed persons to go for routine check up. If diagnosed earlier it can be treated with traditional cancer curing methods like chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy etc. and brought under control to a great extent. With proper rest, ventilation, nutrition and prayer, the patient can add more years to his life. Some live for five to ten years after diagnosis, in good health for a majority of those years.
Some mesothelioma victims succumb within a few months, while the average survival time is about a year.This website is only for informational purpose.It is your responsibility to verify the information provided.Always seek legal and/or medical counsel where needed.Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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