Around 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of pleural mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year.
Treatment includes the surgical removal of cancerous tissues, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
It also describes the current survival rates based on the stage of the disease.
Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell
Cancer causes the pleura to overproduce fluids and stops fluids from draining as they normally would.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma often include:
These symptoms usually appear in the advanced stages of the disease.
People in the early stages of pleural mesothelioma may experience little to no symptoms.
What is the difference between pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma begins in the sheets of tissue that cover the lungs, called the pleura.
Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the tissue that lines the inside of the abdomen, called the peritoneum.
Pleural Mesothelioma Causes
Pleural mesothelioma is most commonly triggered by inhaling asbestos fibers.
Those affected are usually exposed to high levels over the course of many years.
This, in turn, can lead to cancer in some people.
Lab tests cannot diagnose pleural mesothelioma but can provide a high level of suspicion.
These include blood tests called theMESOMARK assay, N-ERC/mesothelin test, and fibulin-3 test.
If pleural mesothelioma is suspected, you would be referred to a cancer specialist called anoncologistfor additional testing.
Staging determines how advanced and extensive the cancer is and helps direct the appropriate course of treatment.
There are four stages to pleural mesothelioma:
How Is Pleural Mesothelioma Treated?
Pleural mesothelioma typically involves surgical treatment to either cure or control the chance.
What Is the Survival Rate for Pleural Mesothelioma?
Healthcare providers often use repeat tests to determine the effectiveness of treatment methods that were used.
This will allow healthcare providers to determine the next course of action to address the effects of pleural mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma can be diagnosed with a combination of imaging studies, blood tests, and a tissue biopsy.
The treatment typically involves surgery but may also include radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drugs.
The prognosis and long-term survival are better if the cancer is diagnosed and treated early.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma.
Cancer Research UK.Types and grades of mesothelioma.
American Lung Association.Mesothelioma symptoms and diagnosis.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for malignant mesothelioma.
Jain SV, Wallen JM.Cancer, malignant mesothelioma.
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan.
