What Is Pleurisy And What Causes It?

Lung Cancer

In many cases of lung cancer, patients are mistakenly diagnosed with pleurisy in the beginning. This is a fairly common misdiagnosis because the early stages of cancer often cause inflammation and swelling around the lungs. When the swelling and inflammation reaches the pleural membranes, it tends to end up resulting in pleurisy. Almost any type of lung cancer can result in pleurisy, but it is particularly common in individuals who have cancers in the lining of the lungs. Cancer patients who have pleurisy are often diagnosed with chronic pleurisy, meaning the pleurisy is not easily treatable. It is more likely to be long-lasting and worsen over time. The idea of having pleurisy due to cancer is definitely concerning, but it is important to remember it is quite rare. The majority of cases of pleurisy are due to simple infections and fairly easy to treat illnesses.

Continue reading to learn about more causes of pleurisy now.