| Pleural Mesothelioma is a serious ailment that affects | | | | strikes within six to eighteen months of diagnosing |
| the thoracic cavity. It is believed to be caused by | | | | the disease depending on the stage at which the |
| inhaling asbestos dust. Most of the three thousand | | | | problem was identified. |
| such cases reported in the United States every year | | | | In the initial phase surgery may prove helpful to |
| are malignant. There are two important reasons for | | | | some extent. Other lines of treatment include |
| this. The disease has a long latency period of twenty | | | | Brachotherapy. Several doctors prefer a |
| to forty years. By the time the symptoms manifest, | | | | multi-modality approach aimed at prolonging survival |
| the cancer would have already set in. Secondly, the | | | | and reducing pain. Exciting new developments like |
| outward signs that emerge are similar to that of | | | | photodynamic therapy, immuno therapy and gene |
| many common and less serious diseases, rendering | | | | therapy are undergoing human clinical trials. |
| diagnosis difficult. Usually the problem is identified too | | | | The sad part is that we are yet to see the full |
| late. | | | | spectrum of the menace. The present strike rate of |
| The outward symptoms of pleural mesothelioma | | | | 3000 new pleural mesothelioma cases per year is only |
| include breathing and swallowing difficulty, loss of | | | | a starter. National Cancer Institute estimates that |
| weight, constant coughing, chest congestion and pain, | | | | eight million people have been exposed to asbestos |
| spitting blood, and fever. Detailed investigations reveal | | | | during the past fifty years and that 300,000 new |
| irregular thickening of pleura and fluid collection, | | | | cases of pleural mesothelioma could come up by |
| reduced space between the lung lobes, and mineral | | | | 2030! It is essential that efforts be made on a war |
| deposits. | | | | footing to develop new effective methods of |
| Malignant pleural mesothelioma goes through four | | | | prevention and treatment. |
| separate stages. Initially it is restricted to the pleura, | | | | But pragmatically, for the present, a person |
| the membrane in the thoracic cavity. Next the lymph | | | | diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and/or |
| nodes are affected. In the third stage there would | | | | his close relatives should look for the best palliative |
| be local spreading of the disease. Finally the cancer | | | | care and a competent lawyer to sue for damages. |
| penetrates to other parts of the body. Often, death | | | | |