Welcome to the Pleural Mesothelioma Center
Part of our mission at PleuralMesothelioma.com is to provide
current, reliable data on all topics relating to pleural
mesothelioma cancer. We are dedicated to compiling the latest
and most up-to-date information on pleural mesothelioma and
offer a number of resources to those coping with the pulmonary
cancer. From treatment options to top doctors and the best
cancer centers in the United States, PleuralMesothelioma.com
is a one-stop resource for pleural mesothelioma patients and
their families.
The Next Step: Life After a Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis
After a patient has been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma,
one of the first concerns for them and their family will be
available treatment options to improve prognosis. The
following include important topics for recently diagnosed
pleural mesothelioma patients:
Improving Pleural Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
While the prognosis for
pleural mesothelioma patients typically ranges between four
and 18 months, there are several traditional and alternative
treatment methods that may prolong a patient’s life
expectancy. Some
prognostic factors cannot be changed, but improving patient
heath and treatment efforts, quitting smoking, and the
addition of immune-boosting therapies are a few ways to
potentially improve a patient’s life expectancy. Patients who
are diagnosed early may qualify for multimodality therapy,
which combines several aggressive treatments in an effort to
extend the patient's life span.
Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatment
Receiving an official pleural
mesothelioma diagnosis often
comes after a series of imaging tests, collection of fluid
samples and a tissue sample known as a biopsy.
The stage of
development the cancer has reached by the time of diagnosis
has a great impact on available pleural
mesothelioma treatment options.
Important topics on pleural mesothelioma treatment include:
Pleural Mesothelioma Causes
Exposure to asbestos is
the primary cause
of pleural mesothelioma.
Used in many industries throughout the 20th century, asbestos
was found in thousands of products and those who worked with
the material in an occupational setting are most at risk for
developing pleural mesothelioma. Pleural
mesothelioma research is
exploring other risk factors, but none have been proven like
the link between asbestos and pleural mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma and Veterans
As a result of their
exposure during military service, U.S. veterans account
for a sizable percentage of pleural mesothelioma patients. The
group of veterans most at risk is naval veterans and this is a
result of the mass amount of asbestos material used on naval
vessels. Navy veterans who worked in shipyards or aboard
vessels experienced more asbestos exposure than the average
member of the Armed Forces and can claim benefits from the VA
system for this service-related condition.
More Resources
If you would like to
learn more about asbestos and other types of mesothelioma,
you can visit Asbestos.com, as it is an all inclusive resource
for asbestos and its associated diseases. Information
concerning the most common locations for asbestos exposure may
be found, in addition to topics on symptoms, treatment
options, prognosis and coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Visitors can also review the most up-to-date information on
mesothelioma through the news section as well as enroll in the
monthly mesothelioma newsletter.
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