Mesothelioma - The Stages of Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer in which a malignant tumor occurs in the mesothelial tissues of some organs of the body such as the lungs which is called pleural mesothelioma. On the other hand, the mesothelioma cancer in abdomen medically termed as peritoneal mesothelioma and in the heart which is known as pericardial mesothelioma.

This type of cancer is related to exposure to asbestos dust or powder. According to some reports individuals who have been exposed to asbestos developed pleural mesothelioma after 20 to 30 years. The treatment given to this case depends on the malignancy stage of the cancer cells.

Stages of Pleural Mesothelioma

Cancer staging refers to the extent of the cancer cells. The higher the stage, the poor the prognosis is. Treatment and management of pleural mesothelioma depends on how huge and extended the cancer has become.

Stage 1. This is the earliest stage of pleural mesothelioma. This is where the cancer cells begin to develop and reproduce in just a single layer of the pleura (lining of the lungs). However in very rare cases, the lungs itself may already be involved during this phase. The lymph nodes are not yet affected therefore, surgery can be performed to remove the tumor. The prognosis is also very good at this stage.

Stage 2. In this stage, 2 layers of the lining are involved. In normal cases, the pleura produces fluid that serves as lubricant in order to facilitate the expansion and contraction of the lungs as we breathe air in and out of our system. However, stage 2 pleural mesothelioma causes the fluid to build up affecting the lungs and the chest wall. This later on result to pleural effusion making the affected person experience difficulty in breathing.

Surgery may still be performed by this time even though some lymph nodes are already affected. The prognosis is good but there is a chance of recurrence after some time.

Stage 3. During this stage, the cancer cells are no longer isolated in one area of the body and already metastasized to the chest wall or the esophagus. The patient may experience severe pain in the chest area and if it wont be managed properly, this may lead to stage 4 cancer. Surgery is not recommended during this stage because the chest wall and the heart are already in danger.

Stage 4. This stage is the final stage and is very fatal. The prognosis or the chance of recovery is already poor. Cancer cells have already affected the bloodstream and other major organs of the body such as the liver, brain as well as the bones. Radiation or chemotherapy may still be performed in this stage however palliative management is often the option both by the medical team and the patient.

Those are the 4 stages of Pleural Mesothelioma. So if you think you have been long exposed to asbestos, visit your doctor right away.

Harry Hassami is the author and producers of The Mesothelioma Journal [http://themesotheliomajournal.com/]. The complete website information about the mesothelioma.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_Hassami

Pleural Mesothelioma

The most common type of mesothelioma is Pleural Mesothelioma. It accounts for 70 to 75% of total patients suffering from mesothelioma. The cancer affects the pleural mesothelium of the lungs due to asbestos accumulation. Inhalation of asbestos cause collection of these fibers inside the lungs and these penetrate the walls of mesothelium and enter the pleura due to a small microscopic size. While migrating from the mesothelium to pleura it damages the mesothelium.

Asbestos invade the pleural cavity forming cancers in the mesothelium and damaging it. The cancer tissues formed will thicken the fluid of the pleura and so inhibiting the proper lung movements. These tumors can constrict the lungs and generate pressure on the ribcage and other organs in some cases as well thus cause severe pains in these organs.
Due to the lungs involvement in blood oxygenation the cancers of lungs can generally spread to other parts of the body through the blood stream. This renders the pleural mesothelioma malignant.

The most common problem that is related to the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is that it is often confused with less serious and deadly diseases as common cold, pneumonia, flu, whooping cough and laryngitis. Sometimes there are no symptoms present in pleural mesothelioma.

The mutation that asbestos fibers cause the mesothelium to develop cancers is studied by scientists and doctors. They still are unaware of the causes of such mutations. It is believed that even one single asbestos fiber is capable of causing this mutation that ends up in mesothelioma. The increased number of cases that are being reported has been helpful for these researchers to study further about this disease.

An asbestos particle generally takes a long time to turn into cancerous tissue and that to up to 30 to 40 years after exposure. Therefore the spotting of the cancer is still difficult in early stages as most cases develop in the alveolar sac of the lungs.

As there still is no specific cure for mesothelioma, doctors try to diagnose the disease as early as possible so as to relieve the sufferings of the mesothelioma patients. This will help in prolonging and improving the life of the mesothelioma patient. The treatment opportunities are all dependent on the extent of the condition and the disease progression.

The treatment options in case of the pleural mesothelioma generally include surgery, chemotherapy and radiations.

Surgery is done to remove a part or complete lung to cut off the cancerous tissue. This will prevent the cancer tissue from further spreading in the lungs and to the other parts of the body. In some cases the fluid is needed to be removed from the lungs. But in extreme cases the entire lung is needed to be removed.

High doses of radiation are often used to treat these pleural cancers. The radiation technique uses high energy waves that kill the malignant cancer cells. Cancer cells along with the healthy ones are killed therefore causing peripheral health problems as well.

Anti cancer drugs are also used to treat these mesothelioma cancers. Here strong drugs are pumped into the tumors or taken orally that can inhibit the cancer growth and spread in the lungs or body. But these like radiations can pose other serious health problems as well.

Improving your life style by fallowing simple steps can improve your lifestyle and health. enjoy the life to the fullest with [http://www.pharmacyinnovation.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bilal_Imran