Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that mostly affects men. It is a primary cancer (the starting point of the cancer) that develops in the pleura. Exposure to asbestos, often associated with smoking, stimulates its appearance. Mesothelioma takes a long time to appear after exposure to asbestos (latency). It can sometimes take up to twenty years.
Unfortunately, there is currently no effective treatment for mesothelioma. Its treatment depends on its stage. Treatment varies from simple monitoring to a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Most surgical treatments are for palliative or diagnostic purposes.
Surgery for tumors of the pleura
In the first phase, the surgeon performs a biopsy for the purposes of analysis, usually by thoracoscopy. If pleural effusion is associated with mesothelioma, the surgeon performs pleurodesis.
For more information on surgical treatment and hospitalization, please visit the website of the Lung Surgery Unit.