Pleural Diseases

How Asbestos Causes Pleural Diseases

Once it’s lodged in the body, asbestos causes pleural diseases through decades of irritation to the lung lining.

If products made with asbestos wear out or get damaged, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. Those nearby may then inhale these fibers, which make their way into the pleural space and can get stuck inside.

The human body cannot break down asbestos fibers, so they remain may inside the body. Over time, the fibers can cause severe damage to the pleura, eventually leading to the formation of cancer or other noncancerous diseases.

Asbestos-related pleural diseases include:

• Mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer
• Pleural effusions, fluid buildup in the pleura
• Pleural plaques
• Pleural thickening
• Pleurisy
• Pneumothorax

We may be able to help you or a U.S. veteran with asbestos-related pleural diseases get compensation to cover your medical expenses. Get started now.

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U.S. Veterans at Risk of Asbestos Pleural Diseases

U.S. veterans who served between the 1930s and the early 1980s are at a higher risk of asbestos-related pleural diseases.

During that time, the U.S. military relied on asbestos-based products as they were cheap and fireproof — without realizing that asbestos can lead to pleural diseases. The makers of asbestos-containing products knew of the risks but hid them to keep profits high.

U.S. veterans make up around 33% of all mesothelioma diagnoses as a result of corporate negligence.

Veterans who develop asbestos-related pleural diseases can pursue benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including health care and monthly payments. Legal compensation may also be available from manufacturers of asbestos-related diseases.

Our team can help you file for VA benefits if you or a loved one develops a pleural disease like mesothelioma after serving in the military.

Types of Asbestos-Related Pleural Diseases

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that starts in the lung lining and is only caused by asbestos exposure.

Asbestos causes pleural mesothelioma by irritating healthy cells in the lung lining. After 10-50 years, this long-term irritation causes healthy cells to mutate into cancer cells. The cancer cells then divide at an out-of-control rate, causing pleural tumors to form in the chest wall.

Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• Breathlessness
• Persistent cough
• Rib, shoulder, or back pain
• Weight loss

Pleural mesothelioma is not to be confused with asbestos lung cancer, which affects the lungs directly. Treatments can often help pleural mesothelioma patients live longer and ease their symptoms.

Pleural Effusion

Over 90% of patients with pleural mesothelioma will suffer from pleural effusions. A pleural effusion occurs when there's an excess buildup of fluid in the lining of the lungs.

The pleural space typically contains a small amount of fluid to help the layers of the pleura move properly as someone breathes. However, fluid can build up if the pleura becomes irritated, causing difficulty breathing or a cough.

Blood and lymph fluid can build up in the pleura too. This can lead to subtypes of pleural effusions.

Pleural effusion subtypes include:

Chylothorax

This is a pleural effusion where chyle (lymph fluid formed in the small intestine) fills the lung lining. It may be a sign of pleural mesothelioma. Respirology Case Reports noted that a 34-year-old woman was diagnosed with mesothelioma after suffering from recurring bouts of chylothorax.

Hemothorax

Hemothorax, also known as a hemorrhagic pleural effusion, occurs when blood builds up in the pleura. The U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that this condition causes many symptoms, like shallow breath, chest pain, and a rapid heartbeat.

Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are white, chalky clumps of a protein called collagen that form in the lining of the lungs. It is the most common asbestos-related pleural disease, according to Cancer Therapy Advisor.

Pleural plaques are usually harmless. They typically don't cause symptoms and do not require treatment. However, those with pleural plaques are  at risk of other pleural diseases like mesothelioma as they've been exposed to asbestos.

Pleural Thickening

Pleural thickening occurs when the lung lining becomes scarred due to long-term irritation from asbestos fibers. This scarring limits the pleura’s ability to move and leads to difficulty breathing.

Pleural thickening can be caused by asbestos exposure or indirectly by other asbestos-related diseases like pleural effusions. Fortunately, the symptoms of pleural thickening are usually mild, so treatments aren’t typically needed.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is the inflammation of the pleura’s two layers.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and purulent pleuritis or empyema, in which pus collects in the pleura.

Pleurisy responds well to treatments in most cases, but it may come back if it’s caused by an underlying health problem like cancer.

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax occurs when air builds up in the pleura. In severe cases, an excessive amount of air causes the lungs to collapse.

Symptoms of pneumothorax include:

• Chest pain
• Cyanosis (skin turns blue due to lack of oxygen)
• Difficulty breathing

Multiple cases have been reported where people suffering from pneumothorax were later diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

Asbestos Pleural Disease Symptoms

While pleural diseases vary in their severity, many share similar symptoms. The symptoms of most asbestos pleural diseases typically develop 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.

Common symptoms of pleural diseases include:

• Chest pain
• Chronic cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss

If you have potential symptoms of an asbestos-related pleural disease, seek medical care immediately. You may have a better health outlook with a prompt diagnosis and treatment — particularly if you have pleural mesothelioma.

Get help pursuing compensation for asbestos-related pleural diseases now.

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Diagnosing Pleural Diseases

If health care professionals think you have an asbestos-related pleural disease, they’ll perform a series of tests. These tests allow doctors to see any abnormalities like scarring, a collapsed lung, fluid buildup, or possibly cancerous tumors.

To diagnose pleural diseases, doctors typically use:

• Chest X-rays: An X-ray uses low doses of radiation to create an image of the chest’s internal structure.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan is a more in-depth type of X-ray that’s guided by computers. It allows doctors to create a three-dimensional image of the chest.
• Other tests: Ultrasounds, blood tests, or positron emission tomography (PET) scans may be used to help see inside the chest.

If doctors suspect you may have cancer, they will perform a biopsy by taking a fluid or tissue sample and testing it for cancer. A biopsy is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis.

Prognosis of Pleural Diseases

The prognosis (expected health outlook) of pleural diseases varies greatly depending on which condition you have.

For example, pleural plaques produce no symptoms and don't harm the patient, so the prognosis is good. Pleurisy and pleural thickening cause mild symptoms but they usually don’t affect overall lifespan.

Potentially fatal pleural diseases include:

• Pneumothorax: If there’s only a small amount of air in the pleura, a pneumothorax isn’t life-threatening. However, if a lot of air enters the pleura, the lungs and heart can get compressed and the patient may die from respiratory failure.
• Pleural effusions: Those with malignant pleural effusions had a median survival of 21 months or less, according to a report from BMC Pulmonary Medicine.
• Pleural mesothelioma: Pleural mesothelioma is the most dangerous of all pleural diseases and has a poor prognosis. The average pleural mesothelioma life expectancy is 12-21 months.

Patients with these dangerous pleural diseases require critical care from doctors.

Find top pleural mesothelioma doctors now.

Pleural Disease Treatment Options

Doctors treat asbestos-related pleural diseases using different methods depending on the type of disease a patient has.

Treatments for pleural diseases may include:

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of medication used to kill cancer. Pleural mesothelioma is typically treated using a combination of two chemotherapy drugs: pemetrexed and cisplatin.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP)
An extrapleural pneumonectomy is one of two major surgeries used to treat pleural mesothelioma. All visible cancer tumors, the lung closest to the cancer, the pleura, and other cancerous tissues are removed.

Pleurectomy With Decortication (P/D)
A pleurectomy with decortication is another surgery used to treat pleural mesothelioma. It’s an alternative to the EPP in which doctors remove the pleura and cancerous growths but not the lung itself.

Pleural Catheters
If you have pleural effusions that keep coming back, doctors can insert a catheter into the chest cavity. You or your loved one can then drain the pleural fluid at home.

Radiation
Radiation therapy may be used to treat pleural mesothelioma. Doctors use high-energy X-rays to kill cancerous cells in the lung lining.

Talc Pleurodesis
Here, doctors drain the pleural space and then insert medical-grade talc into it. This causes the two linings of the pleura to stick together, preventing fluids or air from building up. It may be used to treat a pneumothorax or a pleural effusion.

Thoracentesis
Doctors use a thoracentesis to drain excess fluid from the pleural cavity, which helps improve the patient’s breathing and reduces pain. It can also be used to extract a fluid biopsy if the patient might have cancer.

Thoracostomy
This treatment is similar to a thoracentesis. It involves doctors inserting a small tube into the pleura to suck out air or fluid. This makes it a good treatment for pneumothorax or pleural effusions.

Other Treatments
Doctors can recommend other treatments like medications and minor surgeries depending on the needs of the patient. New treatments may also be available in clinical trials taking place throughout the country.

The success of these treatments can vary by patient and the type of disease they have. In cases of pleural mesothelioma, long-term survival even with treatment is rare — but some patients have beaten the odds and lived for decades.

We can help you afford treatments for asbestos-related pleural diseases right now if eligible.

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VA Benefits & Compensation for Pleural Diseases

U.S. veterans who have developed a pleural disease stemming from their military service can pursue military benefits and other resources. Learn more below.

VA Benefits

By filing for VA benefits, veterans may be able to receive over $4,000 a month for mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases in many cases.

Veterans may also qualify for VA health care, allowing them to access low-cost or free medical treatments from some of the world’s top doctors.

See if you can file a VA benefits claim now with our team's help.

Asbestos Lawsuits

U.S. veterans may be able to get compensation from the makers of asbestos-based products through legal action. Asbestos legal claims typically award $1 million or more for those with mesothelioma.

While filing a claim may seem hard, asbestos attorneys do most of the work, so there is no extra stress on the veteran. No legal action will be taken against the U.S. military or government.

Get a free case review to find out your eligibility to file an asbestos lawsuit.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Many companies that made asbestos-based products filed for bankruptcy to shield themselves from legal claims. While these companies can’t be sued, they were forced to set up trust funds so victims could get compensated.

An estimated $30 billion is available in asbestos trust funds, and veterans can work with an attorney to determine whether they can access a portion of this money.

Get Help for Asbestos-Related Pleural Diseases

U.S. veterans who served their country never deserved to develop pleural diseases like mesothelioma or pleural effusions. Sadly, thousands of veterans continue to suffer from these illnesses every year.

Fortunately, veterans can pursue VA benefit claims, lawsuits, and asbestos trust fund claims for financial restitution. By working with VA-accredited asbestos attorneys, veterans can access compensation without extra stress.

Get a free case review to find out if you qualify for financial compensation for asbestos-related pleural diseases.