The Warning Signs of Pleural Thickening By Aaron Almus

If you have shortness of breath and/or pain in the chest, then you will want to read this article. Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer found in the lungs. In this article you will learn more about what pleural mesothelioma is and the warning signs of pleural thickening.

Your lungs have a lining or membrane that surrounds them. This same lining encases most other organs as well. In the lining around the lungs there are two layers. The inner most layer near the lung tissue is the visceral layer. The outer layer is called the parietal layer. In between them is a lubricating fluid to help the two layers slide back and forth over each other. The sliding action is from our lungs expanding and contracting during breathing.

In pleural mesothelioma the cancer begins in these layers. As the cancer spreads it causes the layer to become more restrictive and thus pleural thickening begins. As the pleural thickening increases the mesothelioma symptoms become greater. These symptoms include difficulty in breathing, difficulty in sleeping, pain in the chest and abdominal regions, blood vomits, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, lower back pains, persiste,nt coughing, hoarseness of voice, sensory loss and difficulty in swallowing. If you have any of these you should consult your doctor, especially if you have a history of exposure to asbestos.

If you go to the doctor as soon as you have any of these symptoms and are diagnosed with mesothelioma there is a much better chance of treatment. The first step of diagnosis is to have a chest x-ray or a CT scan completed. This will reveal any pleural thickening. This is followed by a bronchoscopy. A doctor may also elect to perform a biopsy or a thoracoscopy, where a mini camera is inserted inside the body and with that a tissue sample is attained for further diagnosis.

Treatment of mesothelioma is directly proportional to the time of the revelation of the disease. In the early stages the cancer can be removed through surgery and you can possible avoid having radiation treatment and chemotherapy.

To learn much more about the different types of mesothelioma, visit http://www.Mesothelioma-Cancer-Help.info/ where you will find this and much more, including the most common occupations for asbestos exposure, mesothelioma lawyers and mesothelioma treatments.

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