Pleural Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, that may be caused largely by being exposed to asbestos, that affects the various layers of the pleura throughout the chest wall structure. A couple of warning signs include shortness of breath and weight reduction. Still, being exposed to asbestos does not always lead to cancer. Treatments for it and why it impacts some people but not others is continuously being investigated.

X-rays will often verify the medical diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma and after that the patient will probably be referred to a medical oncologist. The oncologist is going to establish just what stage the sufferer is in as well as suggest therapies. Much like other kinds of cancer there are actually four stages. Obtaining a Pleural Mesothelioma prognosis is hard due to the fact each case is dependent upon the patient’s individual health and stage they are in.

When merely the outermost coating of the pleura about the chest wall or diaphragm is impacted by Pleural Mesothelioma it's described as "stage 1." At this stage the oncologist may possibly suggest radiation treatment methods. When the doctor makes reference to it as "stage 1b" that will suggest it might have also spread in to the interior layer, nearer to the lungs, however still simply having an effect on one side in the sufferer's chest.

Stage 2 of Pleural Mesothelioma can mean this has spread through the two layers of the pleura and also developed a mass or tumor. With this stage the doctor may suggest surgical treatment to remove the tumor and also advise the surgery be followed by a series of radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

In the event this has reached the wall membrane protecting the heart, it is considered as "stage three." There may still the chance for surgical treatment of the afflicted cells. Stage 3 could also mean the disease has spread to the lymph nodes on the one afflicted side. At this time radiation or chemotherapy are often advised.

If it has spread to the other part of the chest wall, and/or the lymph nodes on the other side, as well as to additional areas of the body this is often considered "stage four." At this stage there are just too many areas affected to successfully remove all of the cancer by means of surgery.

Even though in most all cases the Pleural Mesothelioma prognosis is extremely bad, a few patients diagnosed with it have lasted considerably longer than expected. If the oncologist isn’t able to present standard treatments he or she could possibly send the sufferer for one of several medical studies available.

In addition to Mesothelioma that strikes the pleura there's also other forms of cancer that attacks the lining that protects many internal organs. Research is continually being conducted to find new remedies and changes to current cures. As with most cancers, early medical diagnosis is important. Never give up hope if you or a friend is diagnosed with this disease.