Pleural mesothelioma, which begins in the lungs, is the most common type of mesothelioma accounting for 75% of all diagnoses. The root cause is exposure to asbestos. Many professions and jobs utilized and were exposed to asbestos without taking precautions, thereby putting their workers at risk to breathe in the asbestos fibers that eventually cause mesothelioma.
The cancer attacks the lining of the lungs and ribs, known as the pleura. Because the symptoms of mesothelioma take twenty or more years to present themselves, the disease is usually in the advanced stages before a diagnosis is made.
The symptoms for pleural mesothelioma are common and often misdiagnosed. This creates even more delays in completing the appropriate diagnosis and seeking proper treatment.
If you have been exposed to asbestos, notify your physician to assist with the correct diagnosis of your symptoms. Otherwise, your doctor may assume more common medical ailments, such as pneumonia, to explain your condition.
Some symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
Coughing
Fever
Shortness of breath
Weight loss
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