A particular form of cancer known as mesothelioma appears in the lining that protects several organs' external surfaces. Typically, asbestos exposure is the cause.
Although it can attack the lining of the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma), heart, or testicles, mesothelioma primarily affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma).
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the pleura (the lining around the lungs). After inhalation of asbestos fibers, they embed in the pleura, causing inflammation and scarring. Over time, the development of mesothelioma tumors starts.
Unfortunately, mesothelioma cannot be cured, however, treatment can help manage the symptoms.
Symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma can start to appear after 20-40 years of asbestos exposure. Symptoms may include:
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Cough
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
sweating
Exposure to asbestos, a class of minerals made of tiny fibers that were once widely used in construction, always results in mesothelioma.
These tiny fibers can easily enter the lungs and gradually cause damage to the lungs.
This often doesn't result in any immediate issues, with mesothelioma typically emerging more than 20-40 years following asbestos exposure.
If your general practitioner or chest and respiratory doctor suspect malignant pleural mesothelioma, they will refer you for some tests.
Chest X-ray
Chest ultrasound
CT imaging
Biopsy (removing a small piece of the affected tissue to examine it under a microscope).
Fluid drainage (If there is fluid around the lungs, a needle will be inserted through the skin to remove a sample of this fluid to be examined)
Thoracoscopy
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