Patient education: Pleural mesothelioma (The Basics)

What is pleural mesothelioma? — Pleural mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that happens in the thin layer of tissue around the lungs. This tissue is called the "pleura" (figure 1). Pleural mesothelioma is a very serious illness that gets worse over time.

People who get pleural mesothelioma are usually older than 50. It is almost always caused by being around a mineral called "asbestos." Asbestos used to be common in insulation, ceiling tiles, car brakes, and many other materials. It is made up of very small fibers. If these fibers get into the lungs, they can cause serious health problems.

Since the 1970s, people have mostly stopped using asbestos. That's because scientists learned that being around asbestos ("asbestos exposure") can cause problems, including pleural mesothelioma. These problems might not happen until many years after a person is around asbestos. If you were around asbestos in the past, you could be at risk for pleural mesothelioma.

What are the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma? — The main symptoms include:

●Shortness of breath – You might feel like you can't get enough air or have to work harder than usual to breathe.

●Chest pain

Having these symptoms does not mean that you have pleural mesothelioma. Many common conditions cause shortness of breath and chest pain. Most of these conditions are much more common than pleural mesothelioma.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you have shortness of breath, see your doctor or nurse. If you have chest pain or a lot of trouble breathing, go to the emergency department. Those symptoms could mean that your condition is serious.

Will I need tests? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse will do an exam and learn about your symptoms. You might have some or all of these tests:

●Chest X-ray and other imaging tests – These might include a CT scan, PET scan, or MRI. All of these tests create pictures of your lungs and the area around them.

●Breathing tests – In these tests, you breathe hard into a tube. The tests show how well your lungs are working.

●Bronchoscopy – A doctor uses a thin tube (called a "bronchoscope") to look inside your airways.

●Biopsy – A doctor takes a small sample of tissue from the pleura or the space between your lungs. Another doctor looks at the sample under a microscope to check for mesothelioma.

How is pleural mesothelioma treated? — Doctors cannot always get rid of pleural mesothelioma. But they can give treatments that might help you breathe better or have less pain. These include:

●Surgery – Many people with pleural mesothelioma are not healthy enough for surgery, but a few people are. During surgery, doctors might:

•Take out some (or all) of the tissue that has mesothelioma

•Drain fluid from around the lung

•Put a powdery substance called "talc" in the space around the lung. This can help keep fluid from building up.

●Radiation therapy – Radiation kills cancer cells.

●Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is the medical term for medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

●Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy means medicines that work with the body's infection-fighting system to stop cancer growth.

Some people have a combination of treatments. For example, you might have radiation treatment or chemotherapy after surgery. The best treatment for you depends on your age, health, and other symptoms. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about the best treatment for you.

Should I be in a clinical trial? — If you have pleural mesothelioma, you might want to be in a "clinical trial." A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medicines and treatments to see how well they work.

Being in a clinical trial might or might not change your symptoms or help you live longer. But it can give doctors more information about pleural mesothelioma and how to treat it. Information from the trial can help them create new and better medicines and treatments. To find out more about being in a clinical trial, talk with your doctor.

What will my life be like? — It depends on your age, health, treatment, and other factors. Treatment works well for some people and not as well for others.

Getting treated for pleural mesothelioma involves making many choices, such as what treatment to have and when.

Always let your doctors and nurses know how you feel about a treatment. Any time you are offered a treatment, ask:

●What are the benefits of this treatment? Is it likely to help me live longer? Will it reduce or prevent symptoms?

●What are the downsides to this treatment?

●Are there other options besides this treatment?

●What happens if I do not have this treatment?

More on this topic

Patient education: Asbestos exposure (The Basics)
Patient education: Pleural effusion (The Basics)
Patient education: Shortness of breath (The Basics)
Patient education: Chemotherapy (The Basics)
Patient education: What are clinical trials? (The Basics)

Patient education: Shortness of breath (dyspnea) (Beyond the Basics)