Pleura Cancer
FOCUS ON CANCER OF THE PLEURA OR PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA
Cancer of the pleura, or pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer. Difficult to diagnose, it is often confused with lung cancer. It is bound in the great majority of cases with exposure to asbestos.
What are the risk factors for cancer of the pleura?
This cancer affects the pleura, the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the chest cavity. In 75-80% of cases, cancer of the pleura is associated with exposure to asbestos.
The asbestos fibers migrate into the pleura where they trigger an inflammatory reaction. Eventually, in 20 to 50, years, the attack often stimulates the proliferation of malignant cells.
The sectors most at the possibility of exposure to asbestos and therefore, at risk for cancer of the pleura are plumber's pipe fitters, Boilermakers Hauliers, the sectors of shipbuilding and processing of asbestos.
Overall, the incidence of mesothelioma increases with age. These are generally those over sixty years who have been detected this type of cancer. Moreover, the diagnosis is not easy and cancer of the pleura is often confused with lung cancer. As for the prognosis of this rare cancer (1,000 cases per annum) but aggressive, it is rather dark, but everything depends on the stage at diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of cancer of the pleura?
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea).
- Chest pain.
These are the two major symptoms that usually lead patients to consult. The multiplication of cancer cells eventually prevents the spread of liquid between the layers of the pleura, where such symptoms.
- Weight Loss
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Cough
- Feeling of discomfort
