A diagnosis of mesothelioma is devastating for hard-working people who spent years, if not decades working in environments where they suffered exposure to asbestos. Family members also fee the impact of the news with many becoming caregivers for their sick loved ones.
Pleural mesothelioma remains a disease without a cure. Tumors start in the pleural lining of one lung before spreading into the surrounding tissue, lymph nodes and the chest wall.
The Possibility of a Second Cancer Diagnosis
This type of cancer can also spread to other areas of the body when cells attack lymph nodes and blood vessels. While most cells die in the process, some travel to the brain tissue via the circulatory system. The Journal of Oncology revealed in a 2017 study that three percent of patients will receive a brain cancer diagnosis.
Case reports of mesothelioma patients who developed brain metastases reveal that each patient developed certain symptoms early on, including:
- Muscle weakness and spasms
- Facial drooping
- Loss of vision
- Slurring speech
To date, there are only a handful of mesothelioma patients receiving treatment for brain cancer. Of those instances, patients are showing significant recovery with zero reoccurrences.
Mesothelioma patients should be aware of the potential dangers of brain tumors and pay attention to any associated signs. They should also know that this type of cancer is rare. Surgery and radiation therapy have been successful in removing the remaining cancer cells.