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Pleural Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer
From Asbestos
Pleural mesothelioma is the most
common form of the deadly cancer mesothelioma. Pleural
mesothelioma is typically caused by exposure to asbestos. This type of
disease affects the pleural mesothelium, or thin membrane that
surrounds the lungs and secretes the lubrication necessary for them to
expand and contract during respiration. Without this vital layer of
mucous the lungs would not be able to fill with air or expel carbon
dioxide.
Unfortunately, this vital but frequently overlooked part of the anatomy
is the place mesothelioma strikes the most, because asbestos particles
frequently enter the body through normal respiration processes.
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Asbestos fibers are small, jagged,
needle-like shards frequently kicked
up into the air during the manufacturing processes that use asbestos
for its heat-resistant and flame-retardant qualities. When the asbestos
is processed it releases these small fibers into the air which are
easily inhaled by workers, ship builders, and can even linger on their
hair and clothes and follow them home, potentially exposing their
families and friends to pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial
mesothelioma.
When a person inhales asbestos, it can begin a cascade reaction that
more often than not results in terminal mesothelioma. The jagged
asbestos shards enter the lungs where they pierce the inner layers of
the lungs and enter into the pleura mesothelium. Once these shards
pierce the mesothelium they begin to fester and sprout potentially
cancerous tumors.
Pleural mesothelioma is particularly hard to diagnose because it takes
so many years for the cancer to develop, and once it does the early
symptoms are so subtle that they are often confused with less fatal
conditions such as the flu or pneumonia.
Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma
include:
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Pleural effusion (fluid surrounding the lung)
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Hoarseness
• Blood Clots
Because it takes so long for pleural mesothelioma to display symptoms
it is usually so entrenched in the lungs that it is impossible to
effectively treat. Also it is extremely likely that the cancerous cells
from the lungs will circulate throughout the bloodstream, where they
can spread cancer to other systems and organs.
At this time, pleural mesothelioma is 100% fatal. Most people usually
die within six months after diagnosis, some people may survive a year,
but few if any survive past five years. New treatments can usually tend
to focus on preserving the quality of life for the victims of pleural
mesothelioma, but revolutionary treatments such as photodynamic, gene,
angiogenesis, and immunotherapy treatments offer hope to those stricken
with this terrible disease.
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