Pleural Mesothelioma
Unlike the peritoneal strain which spreads in the abdomen, pleural mesothelioma
spreads within the chest cavity and sometimes the lungs. Metastases can occur in any organ (including the brain).
Because it may take decades before the disease shows its symptoms it's important to be familiar with the fact that the most common symptom is
persistent pain localized in the chest. Severe difficulty in breathing due to fluid accumulating in the pleural space (pleural effusion) may
occur. Cough, weight loss and fever are common. The most valuable single test to show the extent of the disease is a CT scan.
There are no serum markers available for the diagnosis of mesothelioma, but that may change in time. The detection of elevated serum levels of
hyaluronic acid may be useful in differentiating mesothelioma from other tumors, or to follow the effect of treatment.
The median survival is about 17 months from the beginning of symptoms. That is actually seven months longer than the typical case of
peritoneal mesothelioma. The 3-year survival rate is 10% the 5-year survival is approximately 5%. Do not give up hope, though. Some breakthroughs
like the combination of cisplatin with Ely Lilly's Alimta have been proven to increase life expectancy by 30% in Canada. More drugs are in
development. Time is an ally.
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