A rare form of cancer called mesothelioma is a disease in which tumors form in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they breathed asbestos. Symptoms include shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen.
If an x-ray of the chest or abdomen gives cause for concern, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a thorascope. If abnormal tissue is seen, tissue is taken and examined for cancer cells.
Treatment for mesothelioma may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or photodynamic therapy. The choice of treatment depends on where the cancer is located, how far it has spread, and the patient’s age and general health. The prognosis depends on the size and location of the cancer, how far it has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment and the patient’s age.
Make an appointment now, or call 216.444.6503 or 800.223.2273 Ext. 46503 to schedule an appointment with a Cleveland Clinic pulmonary physician.
