Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer that begins in the pleura, which is a membrane that covers several organs located in the chest cavity, including the lungs. Just about 75% of all mesothelioma diagnoses are being made for this particular variation. This health condition is most frequently seen in men ages 60-80, who have been exposed to asbestos, often decades earlier before their actual diagnosis.

Symptoms

Indications of malignant pleural mesothelioma are akin to the other kinds of this cancer which makes it complicated to stage and diagnose. In order to diagnose mesothelioma appropriately, the patient has to undergo a number of procedures including scans, x-rays and a biopsy, to find out the stage and form of the cancer. The most commonly seen symptoms consist of:

• dry cough
• chest pain because of the build up of fluid
• wheezing
• difficulties speaking (because of the short breath)
• shortness of breath
• weight loss
• loss of appetite

Prognosis

A person’s overall wellbeing, condition and age usually affects the outlook. An individual who is diagnosed at an earlier age and is in good health, is likely to tolerate the  necessary treatments better than a patient who has pre-existing health tissues. According to the American Cancer Society, 75 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are 55 or older. Statistics also illustrate that men are five times more like to get diagnosed than women.  When a person is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, doctors will try to assess how far the cancer has spread. A cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body, gives the patient and his health care providers a lot more treatment alternatives and can impact a patient’s prognosis considerably. Pleural mesothelioma patients have a poorer prognosis if they are exhibiting symptoms such as shortness of breath, incapacity to carry regular out daily physical activities, chest pain, weight loss, a high white blood cell count, a low red blood cell count, and high blood levels called lactate dehydrogenase. These symptoms are often a sign that the cancer has already developed into the later stages.  Patients who have these symptoms generally receive a prognosis between six and twelve months.

Treatment

The treatment regime is being determined by the diagnosis and a decision is usually made between the doctors and the patient. Treatment options include:

• Surgery –removing of cancer tissues and tumors from the lining to the occasionally removal of the whole lung, a procedure known as pneumonectomy.
• Chemotherapy – this the process of fighting the cancer cells with highly powerful drugs, such as Alimta or Cisplatin.
• Radiation therapy – it the process of shrinking tumors and killing the cancer cells via radiation.
• Alternative treatment – this may include immunotherapy and changes in lifestyle and nutrition.