Mesothelioma cancer, which is classified into three according to the area infected by each of these, is caused by asbestos particles inhaled mostly at workplaces. The three types are the pleural mesothelioma (that affects the mesothelium around the lung cavities), the peritoneal (found in the lining of the abdomen) and the pericardial (which attacks the heart cavities). The former, which attacks the lining of the lungs, is also called asbestos lung mesothelioma because it affects the lung cavities and is caused by asbestos.

The pleural mesothelioma is definitely fatal. The infection spreads all along the lungs even forcing the removal of a lung. The inhaled fibers of asbestos accumulated in the pleural innings starting harmful cell activity. Unnatural cell division occurs resulting in pleural effusion and thickening of the layer. This induces breathing problems and other respiratory illnesses in the victim. The time taken by the disease to reach this alarming proportion would be sometimes decades after asbestos exposure.

Diagnosing pleural mesothelioma becomes sometimes extremely difficult, especially if the doctor is nor skillful in the field. Many symptoms of this cancer are similar to the symptoms of other diseases like pneumonia. Sometimes mesothelioma diagnosis takes place when the patient goes to the doctor for some other treatment. An expert physician would ask the health and medical history of such patients before conducting imaging tests, lung tests or biopsy.

Some mesothelioma cases are detected when a patient undergoes checkups for lesser evils like fever, fatigue etc. A knowledgeable physician would not hesitate to ask for the health and work history of such patients before proceeding to imaging tests, lung tests or biopsy.

Conventional treatment methods like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are followed to treat the disease in the initial stages. Surgery is used to remove the infection. Additional therapies like chemotherapy prevent the spread of cancer to near by cells and tissues. Radiation therapy is used to remove the remnants of cancer through high energy or particle beams. Palliative treatment is provided to patients who are in the advanced stage of the cancer.

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