The Truth Behind Pleural Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, a kind of cancer caused mostly by inhaling asbestos filled air for long periods, is scientifically divided into three types. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of these three and accounts for almost seventy five percent of all reported cases. The malevolent loose asbestos fibers get accumulated in the protective membrane of our internal organs called the mesothelium and slowly retard its cells and thereby, its functioning. Pleural mesothelioma particularly affects the protective lining around lungs and internal chest wall, which is called pleura.
The pleura consists of one which covers the chest wall called parietal pleura and another which covers the lungs known as visceral pleura. The easy expansion and contraction of lungs is possible because of a fluid present between these two linings. Asbestos which is inhaled enters into the minute passages of the lungs and then the pleura. The consequence is the formation of cancerous cells, due to a chemical reaction which the medical world still cannot explain. The pleura lining becomes thicker and thicker as the cells start dividing unnaturally. Excess fluid also gets accumulated. Breathing process is reduced by the thickening of the pleura resulting in breathlessness.
Other than shortness of breath which is the first symptom the patient suffers from chest pain, weight loss and night sweats. The severity of the disease will increase with the number of years a person is exposed to asbestos. After the patient is exposed to the malicious asbestos it may take years for the symptoms to appear. There is also the possibility of wrong diagnosis in the case of this disease. This may add to the severity of the condition. If the symptoms appear in a person who has been in contact with asbestos, it is advisable to consult a mesothelioma specialist immediately.
Traditional treatments for pleural mesothelioma are wide and varied, though having limited success. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are popular among traditional treatments. Pleorodesis, pleurectomy, decortication, pneumonectomy and extra pneumonectomy are the five different surgical treatments.
Chemotherapy is the widely accepted medicated treatment, while radiation therapy uses high energy gamma rays, X-rays or neutrons. Other therapies for the disease are intra-operative photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy. Above all the will power of the patient and the level of infection determine the success of treatment.
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