Pleural asbestos mesothelioma cancer is one of several types of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma.
It occurs in the mesothelium of the chest wall or around the lungs. One layer of the mesothelium lines the entire chest cavity and the diaphragm. The other layer covers the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma usually develops in just one of those layers. However, it can metastasize to the other lung.
Pleural mesothelioma accounts for approximately 2/3 of all cases of mesothelioma. It affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. Pleural mesothelioma is not the same thing as lung cancer. Lung cancer is cancer of the lung, the lung tissue itself, while pleural mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the chest cavity or the lining around the lungs.
Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of pleural mesothelioma. There may be other causes, but none have been identified.
History of Asbestos
Throughout the 20th century, many industries manufactured products that contained asbestos. Individuals who worked with asbestos are most at risk for developing pleural mesothelioma.
Asbestos is the single largest cause of occupational cancer in the United States. It can lead to pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma, testicular mesothelioma, lung cancer and other types of cancers such as colon, stomach, throat, and laryngeal.
Veterans of military service account for a large number of pleural mesothelioma patients, particularly those who were in the Navy. That is due to a large amount of asbestos-containing material being used on Navy ships. Veterans of the Navy who worked in ship yards or on the ship were exposed much more to asbestos than other members of the armed forces.
Pleural mesothelioma is a disease that is dose dependent. That means that the more exposure you have, the greater the chances you will develop it.
Diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma
A diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is most often arrived at after a series of imaging tests such as x-rays, MRI’s, CT scans and collection of fluid samples and tissue samples from the suspicious area.
Unfortunately, by the time the disease is diagnosed, it is usually at an advanced stage. That is because so many of the signs and symptoms of pleural mesothelioma resemble other diseases in the chest.
In addition mesothelioma can develop from 25 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Therefore, individuals may even forget to tell their doctors about their exposure and it may not be diagnosed as early as it could be.
Symptoms of pleural asbestos mesothelioma cancer include:
shortness of breath
inability to breathe without pain
lower back pain
dry cough
pain upon coughing
weight loss
lump under the skin on the chest
prolonged hoarseness
difficulty swallowing
coughing up blood
fatigue
muscle weakness
Again, these are also the symptoms of many other diseases. Therefore, it is very important to tell your doctor if you have a history of exposure to asbestos.
You may wonder how these symptoms develop. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and become lodged in the mesothelium which lines the chest cavity and lungs and remain there for many decades. These fibers can cause irritation and inflammation and, as a result, tumors can develop. These tumors can place pressure on the lining and limit function of the lungs.
When the asbestos fibers contact and lodge in the pleural membrane, it results in a thickening of the membrane. This encourages build-up of fluid then places pressure on the lung which will prevent normal breathing and lead to the symptoms.
To learn more about asbestos, please refer to our section on asbestos.
There is thought to be an association between smoking and mesothelioma. If you've been exposed to asbestos and you also smoke, you have a greatly increased risk of developing lung cancer. On the other hand, just because you smoke, you do not have an increased risk of developing asbestos mesothelioma cancer.
Treatment Options for Pleural Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer
The main treatment options for pleural mesothelioma are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Sometimes these options are used in combination. If diagnosed early, surgery can be used to remove local tumors and then chemotherapy or radiation can be used to follow-up in the affected area.
There are also frequently clinical trials that you may be eligible for that involve testing new treatment options. These new treatments generally involve new types of chemotherapy drugs.
If you have a history of asbestos exposure and have any of the symptoms related to pleural asbestos mesothelioma cancer, you should see a specialist right away. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the outcome.