Mesolthelioma Information You Won\'t Find Elsewhere

lining of body organs and internal cavities.

Pleural Mesothelioma develops when cancer affects the pleura (the lining of the lung membranes). This form of cancer is more common in the United Kingdom, followed by South Africa, then Australia, then U.S., then Eastern Europe.

The pleura has two layers that provides support and protection to the lungs and chest cavity:

-The outer or parietal layer, lines the entire chest cavity and diaphragm.

-The inner layer and visceral layer is applied directly to the toxic fibers are trapped in the spaces between mesothelial cells of the pleura.

Symptoms

Asbestos fibers are trapped in the body makes cancer cells grow and divide random unchecked. These results in membrane thickening and pleural mesothelial cells, leading to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura) (pleural effusion. This fluid accumulated gradually begin to pressure in the lungs and respiratory system causing abnormal breathing and difficult.

These events eventually form the basis for most of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. These symptoms include:

A) persistent cough or hoarseness

B) Hemoptysis, coughing up blood in the sputum

C) Difficulty in swallowing dysphagia ()

D) Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing known as dyspnea,

E) pleurisy, chest pain during breathing

F) Development of lumps under the skin of the chest wall

G) Night sweats or fever

H) Unexplained weight loss

I) fatigue

Diagnosis

Just as in other forms of mesothelioma, symptoms pleural mesothelioma show up many years after initial exposure to asbestos, and these symptoms are not specific for pleural mesothelioma, which also occur in some other less serious lung diseases such as pneumonia and influenza.

All these factors make the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma very difficult.

Once a strong clinical suspicion of pleural mesothelioma, the diagnosis is confirmed by imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, to confirm the location of the cancer. The patient is also subject to the liquid and the analysis of tissue known as a biopsy to confirm the type of cancer in question.

Treatment

The newly created drugs and detection techniques have improved the outlook for patients with mesothelioma effusion.

In general there are three main modes of treatment: surgery a) b)) c Chemotherapy Radiotherapy. Most patients receive a combination two or more modes of treatment.

The earlier cancer is detected, the better the prognosis and the rest of the range of treatment options. When the tumor is detected early, curative surgery is performed to remove the cancer, this is followed by chemotherapy or radiation to kill cancer cells remnants. Curative surgery is performed only in patients who have good general health and whose cancers have not spread beyond the sections located of the lungs.

The level of progression of the tumor is classified according to cancer stage. The stages range from stage 1 to stage 4, depending on the level of spread of tumor.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 pleural mesothelioma have a better prognosis and better treatment options.

The latter stages of cancer, ie, stages 3 and 4 is largely confined to ways of palliative treatment to improve the quality of life and not its outcome. These palliative treatments include excessive drainage fluid in the pleural space and surgical removal of tumors to relieve pressure on the lungs.

According to current studies, approximately 10% of total pleural mesothelioma patients survive for three to five years after diagnosis and 5% survive 5 years or more.

About the Author:

Bello Kamorudeen.For more information on mesothelioma go to http://www.mesotheliomaconer.blogspot.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Pleural Mesothelioma-Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment-Basic facts you need to know

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