Lung mesothelioma

Many people have never even heard of the term lung mesothelioma. However, the numbers of cases of lung mesothelioma are growing over the years. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can occur in the linings of the lung membranes, abdomen, and heart. Lung mesothelioma is a term referring to the occurrence of mesothelioma specifically in the membranes of the lungs. Malignant lung mesothelioma can cause quite a lot of suffering and pain, and can result even in death.
The term given to the most common form of cancer of the lung lining is "pleural mesothelioma". Individuals who come into contact with asbestos and other construction workers are at high risk of contracting lung mesothelioma. Early diagnosis and subsequent treatment can prolong life, but 100% of the affected persons die within a period of 5 years.

Risk factors

Working with asbestos is the biggest known single cause of lung mesothelioma. Tiny asbestos particles float during manufacturing processes that involve asbestos. These may be swallowed or inhaled. Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of lung mesothelioma. But when combined with asbestos exposure, there is an increased risk of getting lung mesothelioma.
If your occupation exposes you to asbestos regularly, you need to be aware of the symptoms of lung mesothelioma. Once lung mesothelioma develops, it becomes quickly aggressive and needs to be controlled quickly. Treatment must be sought for immediately.

Symptoms

The symptoms of lung mesothelioma can be hardly noticeable. Some symptoms can be mistaken for symptoms of a common cold or other allergies. The symptoms of lung mesothelioma are as follows:

1. Chronic coughs that worsen over time
2. Chest pain
3. Shortness of breath
4. Fatigue and wheezing
5. Loss of appetite
6. Weight loss
7. Lung infection
8. Diagnosis

The doctor may ask for a chest X-ray to diagnose possible lung mesothelioma. The doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special thoracoscope. A cut is made through the wall of the chest, and the instrument is placed between the ribs. This test is known as thoracoscopy. A local anesthetic is usually administered during the procedure. If abnormal tissues are found, then a small tissue piece may be needed to be taken out. This will then be looked under a microscope to determine the presence of cancer cells. This is called as biopsy. The chances of recovery depend on the size of the cancer, the spread of the cancer, how the cancerous cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to the treatment, and the age of the patient.

Treatments

The available standard treatments for lung mesothelioma are as follows:

1. Surgery: This involves the removal of part of the lining tissue around the lungs. If the cancer has spread to a large area, a pneumonectomy may be performed. This is a process where a part of the lung is removed.
2. Radiation therapy: This involves application of high-energy radiation to destroy the cancerous cells. Radiation may be external or internal, depending on the source.
3. Chemotherapy: It involves administering anti-cancer drugs intra-venously. This may follow the previous two treatments.