Mesothelioma Cancer

This information is about mesothelioma – a cancer of the thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen. It describes the causes and symptoms of mesothelioma and what is likely to happen if you are diagnosed with this type of cancer.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a tumor of the mesothelium. This is the thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen (tummy) and surrounds the organs in these areas.

A cancer of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. However, it’s usually referred to simply as mesothelioma. There are other tumors of the mesothelium, such as adenomatoid tumors, benign cystic mesotheliomas and solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos

Mesothelioma is only caused by exposure to asbestos, though cases have been documented in children or other individuals with no asbestos history. Asbestos is a microscopic and naturally-occurring mineral that lodges in the pleural lining of the lungs and the peritoneal lining of the abdominal cavity. In most cases, several years will pass (up to 60) before mesothelioma develops in those who had been exposed to asbestos.

In many cases, those individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma that have been known to be exposed to asbestos may be eligible for financial compensation from asbestos manufacturers for their illness. Those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and were exposed to asbestos should fill out the brief form on this page. We'll rush you a complimentary mesothelioma and asbestos exposure information kit detailing new mesothelioma treatments, active clinical trials, top doctors, as well as how to obtain compensation for asbestos-related health conditions like mesothelioma.

People most likely to have been exposed to asbestos at work include:

Joiners and construction workers

Plumbers

Electricians

Boilermakers

Shipbuilders.

These jobs were mostly done by men. Mesothelioma is five times more common in men than in women.

People who have not worked directly with asbestos can also sometimes develop mesothelioma. These include:

Family members of people who’ve worked with asbestos and brought the dust home on their clothes

People who lived near asbestos factories

People who worked in buildings containing asbestos materials, which were disturbed or damaged.

Symptoms of mesothelioma

The symptoms of mesothelioma may include any of the following:

Breathlessness, chest wall pain which feels heavy and dull or aching, weight loss, fever, sweating (especially at night), hoarseness – this happens when there is pressure on the nerve that supplies the voice box, cough that doesn’t go away, abdominal pain and swelling (peritoneal mesothelioma).

These symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer, but you should always have them checked out by your doctor, particularly if they don’t go away after a couple of weeks.

Currently, there is no cure for mesothelioma unless it can be completely removed by surgery. Unfortunately, when mesothelioma is diagnosed, it has usually already spread beyond the point where it could be completely removed by surgery. In this case, the aim of treatment is to control symptoms.

Different treatments can be used for mesothelioma. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the most commonly used treatments. These treatments may be used to control symptoms such as pain, or to control the cancer for as long as possible. Research has shown that chemotherapy may help some people live longer.

Occasionally, surgery may be used to help control pleural effusions caused by the mesothelioma. However, there is no evidence that surgery can help people with mesothelioma live longer. 

Prognosis

The prognosis for malignant mesothelioma is rarely favorable, which is why early diagnosis is so incredibly important. Yet as mentioned above, there are great strides being taken in the medical and scientific communities to ensure that life expectancy and survival rates continue to climb for patients as researchers continue to find a cure.