Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the deadly cancer mesothelioma. This type of disease affects the pleural mesothelium, or thin membrane that surrounds the lungs and secretes the lubrication necessary for them to expand and contract during respiration. Without this vital layer of mucous the lungs would not be able to fill with air or expel carbon dioxide.

Unfortunately, this vital but frequently overlooked part of the anatomy is the place mesothelioma strikes the most, because asbestos particles frequently enter the body through normal respiration processes.

Asbestos fibers are small, jagged, need-like shards frequently kicked up into the air during the myriad manufacturing processes that use asbestos for its heat-resistant and flame-retardant qualities. When the asbestos is processed it releases these small fibers into the air which are easily inhaled by workers, shippers, and can even linger on their hair and clothes and follow them home, potentially exposing their families and friends to pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial mesothelioma.

When a person inhales asbestos, it can begin a cascade reaction that more often than not results in terminal mesothelioma. The jagged asbestos shards enter the lungs where they pierce the through the inner layers of the lungs into the pleura mesothelium. Once these shards pierce the mesothelium they begin to fester and sprout potentially cancerous tumors. Pleural mesothelioma is particularly hard to diagnose because it takes many years for the cancer to develop, and once it does the early symptoms are so subtle that they are often confused with less fatal conditions such as the flu or pneumonia.

Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Pleural effusion (fluid surrounding the lung)
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Hoarseness
• Blood Clots

Sadly, because it takes so long for pleural mesothelioma to display symptoms it is usually so entrenched in the lungs that it is impossible to effectively treat. Further complicating this already difficult situation is that it is extremely likely that the cancerous cells from the lungs will easily circulate throughout the bloodstream, where they can spread cancer to other systems and organs.

Pleural mesothelioma is 100% fatal. Most people usually die within six months after diagnosis, some people survive a year, but few if any survive past five years. New treatments can usually tend to focus on preserving the quality of life for the victims of pleural mesothelioma, but revolutionary treatments such as photodynamic, gene, angiogenesis, and immunotherapy treatments offer hope to those stricken with this terrible disease.

Mesothelioma Pain - An Overview

Root Cause of Mesothelioma Pain:

The root cause of the Mesothelioma pain is the cancer of the lining of lung and abdomen, which is attributed to the patient having had a long exposure of Asbestos. Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral and has a multiplicity of uses in many industries such as construction process, boilers, railroad shipyards and other industries. It was widely used because of its stability and fire resistant properties even at high temperatures.

Asbestos the Monster cause of Mesothelioma Pain

But on account of it’s serious health damaging implications the manufacturing and use of asbestos is now considered as extremely hazardous. Exposure to asbestos increases the vulnerability to respiratory disorders, including a form of lung fibrosis known as Asbestosis. Inhalation of asbestos particles is also the factor causing mesothelioma cancers resulting in severe mesothelioma pain.

Mesothelioma Pain and Its Remedies:

Management of mesothelioma pain is based on different aspects such as what is causing the pain. The tumor pressing on nerves and other structures and organs around the area causes severe pain. It can also result from treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation and because of psychological reasons.

Doctors have defined mesothelioma pain as Acute, chronic and breakthrough and prescribe different types of medication for each kind. Three types of medicines are available for these pains. There are non-opioids that are non-toxic and are effective to treat the low level pain. The opioids treat moderate to severe pain. The third category is Rapid-onset opioids to treat the breakthrough or acute pain. The second and the third varieties of medicines for mesothelioma pain are narcotic in nature. Unfortunately, these the medicines in general and he narcotic medicines in particular have serious side effects and they should be taken under medical supervision.

New Techniques For Controlling Mesothelioma Pain:

With the advances in the field of health science, new techniques have been developed for managing mesothelioma pain. These new techniques do not cause any side effects on the patients. For example Neurosurgery is being used on some mesothelioma patients whereby the doctors block or alter the nerve pathways along which the pain messages are transmitted. Nerve blocks also called the Epidurals are also used to help treat the chronic pain. But the most effective way of controlling mesothelioma pain is through psychological help, counseling, body therapy and meditation.