Diseased lung after Pleural Mesothelioma:-

What is Pleural Mesothelioma?

Pleural mesothelioma is a disease that affects the lining of the lungs, or lung pleura. Sometimes doctors refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the pleura. It is a common misconception that mesothelioma is a type of primary lung cancer.

Causes of Pleural Mesothelioma:

Exposure of the individual to the mineral asbestos, causes pleural mesothelioma. This cancer, pleural mesothelioma has the highest rate of occurrence. In this pleural mesothelioma-

1. The asbestos fiber gets lodged in between the mesothelium membrane surrounding the lungs.

2. The asbestos fiber once inside the pleural membrane remains dormant for a long period of time.

3. After this latency period, these fibers start interfering with the working of the mesothelial cells. This interference leads to the development of the cancerous tissues.

Site of occurrences:

Pleural mesothelioma spreads within the chest cavity, sometimes it involves lungs.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma:

• A persistent cough that is harsh and dry
• Shortness of breath
• Painful inhalation
• Chest pain
• Weight loss
• Fever or night sweats
• Persistent fatigue

What are the types of  Mesothelioma ?

Mesothelioma is one of the dangerous cancers in the world. Its cure is impossible and even its detection is quite difficult. The symptoms of Mesothelioma, resemblance some of the commonly occurring diseases.Even for the doctor it would be difficult to diagnose.

There are mainly 3 types of mesothelioma that have the highest rate of incidence. These three types are

 

1.       The pleural mesothelioma

2.      The pericardial mesothelioma

3.      The peritoneal mesothelioma

 

All the above three forms of mesothelioma are devastating for the patient .Once a person has been diagnosed with this cancer, the only option left to him is make his remaining life pain free and comfortable  as there is no permanent cure for this cancer.

 

What are the  most common symptoms?

 

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Coughing
• Husky voice
• Fluid in the chest, lungs, or abdomen
• Pain in chest or abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Inability to sleep

 

 

 

Structure of our Lung

What is Mesothelioma?

 

1) Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos.

 2)In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. 

 3) Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

4) Exposure to asbestos occurs primarily in occupational settings. Plumbers and insulation workers were widely exposed for many years. 

5) Each year about 3,000 people will die from mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure.

6) This cancer was very rare a few decades ago; however, it is being seen more frequently as men and women who were born in the 1920's and beyond advance into the older age group.

Structure after Mesothelioma :-