Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is one of several types of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos refers to magnesium-silicate mineral fibers that were often used for insulation and in the construction and shipbuilding industries. Approximately 80% of mesothelioma patients had a history of asbestos exposure. Although smoking has not been linked to mesothelioma, the combination of asbestos exposure and smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer.

Approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma annually. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women; the disease is more common in white Americans. On average, symptoms of mesothelioma usually manifest around age 70. The time period between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma is 20 to 40 years. People with pleural mesothelioma have tumors in the tissues and lining surrounding their lungs. Men ages 50 to 70 are the most likely to develop pleural mesothelioma, as asbestos was used in many industries from WWII until the 1970s.

Early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are hard to recognize. Testing pleural mesothelioma is of two kinds:

(1) diffuse and malignant (cancerous).

(2) localized and benign (non-cancerous.)

Benign mesotheliomas can often be removed through surgery, are usually not fatal, and are unrelated to asbestos exposure. However, malignant mesothelioma is a very serious condition.

Pleural mesothelioma patients may experience weight loss, shortness of breath, weakness, loss of appetite, lower back pains, chest pains, constant coughing and trouble swallowing. A medical exam often shows a pleural effusion, which is a fluid build-up between the chest walls and lungs.

Some individuals with pleural mesothelioma may never experience early symptoms. Pleural mesothelioma can only be identified through a CT scan or x-ray. If a possible tumor is present, a physician will conduct a thoroscopy, followed by a biopsy.

Treatment will usually begin immediately to try to stop the cancer from spreading. The various treatments for pleural mesothelioma include:

• surgery
• radiation
• chemotherapy

When there is no chance to remove the pleural mesothelioma, palliative surgery is performed to improve the patient’s quality of life. A pleural mesothelioma patient may have fluid in the lungs drained or have their tumors reduced in size.

Chemotherapy treats mesothelioma by using drugs that kill cancer cells. It can also be utilized to destroy cancer that has spread or returned.

Radiation therapy is used to kill cancerous cells. Radiation therapy can be administered either internally or externally. Internal radiation is delivered into the body, while external radiation is given by a linear accelerator. However, radiation therapy is not the most effective treatment option for mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma is not considered curable, but it is treatable. Treatment can reduce the symptoms and may extend the patient’s lifespan.