Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma, which is a cancer affecting the mesothelium. Only around 3000 total mesothelioma cases are reported a year in the United States and the pleural form accounts for three-fourths of it. It affects the pleura, which is the lining that protects the lungs. The pleura is constructed with two membranous layers to shores up the lungs and shields the lung cavity. While the outer layer guards the chest cavity and diaphragm, the inner one called the visceral layer encompasses the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma usually attacks one of these layers initially but may spread to the other layer too. The cancer is invariably caused by the asbestos particles trapped in the spaces available between mesothelium cells after being inhaled.
After settling down in convenient places, the particles trigger chemical reactions causing the cells to divide in a lawless manner. The activity thickens the pleural layers and mesothelical cells and a fluid build-up called pleural effusion occurs. The extra fluid presses the lungs thereby preventing easy breathing. The cancer is heralded by persistent dry cough, emission of blood through coughing, problems with swallowing, shortness of breath, weight loss of inexplicable nature, fatigue, lump formation around the chest etc.
Diagnosing pleural mesothelioma is fraught with dangers because these symptoms can be the result of other diseases like pneumonia and influenza too. It requires proper examination of the medical history of the patient, imaging tests like CT scan, MRI, X-ray and biopsy to establish the type and class of the cancer.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment generally centers on the traditional cures like surgery, chemotherapy (using chemicals to fight the remnants of cancer) and radiation. In severe cases, these may be combined for achieving better effects. However, the prognosis of this cancer is not always satisfactory since many cases get detected only at advanced infection stages. But for those diagnosed at the early stages of cancer, there is definitive reason to cheer.
The disease is caused by asbestos exposure at mostly workplaces and as such, the malignant pleural mesothelioma patient has the lawful rights to claim for damages from the company or individual who are responsible directly. The compensation amount awarded in such cases can sometimes be as big as several million dollars. - 30285
After settling down in convenient places, the particles trigger chemical reactions causing the cells to divide in a lawless manner. The activity thickens the pleural layers and mesothelical cells and a fluid build-up called pleural effusion occurs. The extra fluid presses the lungs thereby preventing easy breathing. The cancer is heralded by persistent dry cough, emission of blood through coughing, problems with swallowing, shortness of breath, weight loss of inexplicable nature, fatigue, lump formation around the chest etc.
Diagnosing pleural mesothelioma is fraught with dangers because these symptoms can be the result of other diseases like pneumonia and influenza too. It requires proper examination of the medical history of the patient, imaging tests like CT scan, MRI, X-ray and biopsy to establish the type and class of the cancer.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment generally centers on the traditional cures like surgery, chemotherapy (using chemicals to fight the remnants of cancer) and radiation. In severe cases, these may be combined for achieving better effects. However, the prognosis of this cancer is not always satisfactory since many cases get detected only at advanced infection stages. But for those diagnosed at the early stages of cancer, there is definitive reason to cheer.
The disease is caused by asbestos exposure at mostly workplaces and as such, the malignant pleural mesothelioma patient has the lawful rights to claim for damages from the company or individual who are responsible directly. The compensation amount awarded in such cases can sometimes be as big as several million dollars. - 30285
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