Mesothelioma Cancer Guide

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The widespread use of asbestos in the U.S. caused countless incidents of exposure and resulting illnesses. Learn more about your diagnosis in our mesothelioma cancer guide and find out what you can do if you think you’ve been exposed.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Fill out our form to receive a free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more. 

What Is Mesothelioma Cancer?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that begins in the mesothelium, the tissue that lines organs in the body. The most common type of this cancer is pleural mesothelioma, in which tumors form in the tissue around the lungs.

Asbestos fibers that are inhaled lodge in tissue and cause damage over decades. Other rarer types of mesothelioma attack the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity or the pericardium around the heart.

Malignant mesothelioma takes decades—sometimes up to 50 years—to develop after exposure to asbestos, and because it is rare with symptoms similar to more common illnesses, diagnosis is often delayed.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pains
• Persistent dry coughing

As the disease advances to its final stage, symptoms can worsen and typically include severe chest and lung pain, bloating, fatigue, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, night sweats, and fever.

Who Is at Risk for Mesothelioma?

Most mesothelioma victims are people who worked with or around asbestos. Some of the most at-risk people worked in:

• The military, especially the U.S. Navy
• Construction
• Shipyards
• Industrial and manufacturing jobs

Anyone who lived with someone who worked with asbestos could also develop mesothelioma. They often were exposed to fibers brought home on the worker’s clothing or skin.

U.S. Navy veterans have some of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the country. American naval vessels built from the 1930s to the early 1960s contained large amounts of asbestos.

Floors, hulls, electrical systems, insulation, boilers, steam pipes, and more contained asbestos fibers in order to add tensile strength, heat resistance, and low electrical conductivity.

Other workplaces likely to have contained asbestos include power plants, steel plants, manufacturing facilities, oil companies, welding businesses, automotive shops, chemical plants, mines and processing plants, and textile mills.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer. Not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma, although exposure is the leading cause.

Older males are diagnosed with mesothelioma the most, particularly those who worked decades ago in facilities with asbestos.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma Cancer

It can take decades to diagnose mesothelioma. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not be evident for 20 to 50 years after exposure. Even then, the symptoms may initially seem mild and mimic those of pneumonia, the flu, and other common illnesses.

Physicians need to know if patients with mesothelioma-like symptoms may have been exposed to asbestos in the past. This helps them make the most accurate diagnosis and refer patients to the right specialists.

After a physical exam, a diagnosis will likely involve:

• Blood tests to look for markers
• X-rays to rule out more common respiratory illnesses
• Other types of imaging scans
• If tumors or growths are seen in scans, the next step is to perform a biopsy

A biopsy is when a doctor removes a small piece of tissue for pathologists to examine under a microscope. This is usually the most conclusive way to determine if growths are cancerous. After mesothelioma is diagnosed, a specialist will stage the disease.

Staging Mesothelioma

As with other cancers, oncologists assign one of four stages after diagnosing mesothelioma to describe how advanced it is:

• Stage I. Mesothelioma is rarely diagnosed in this earliest stage. At this point, the cancer has not spread from the pleural tissue. Patients in stage I have many treatment options and the best chance of surviving.

• Stage II. By stage II, the cancer has spread away from the primary location but has not yet spread to lymph nodes or other types of tissue. Symptoms are still mild, and there are multiple treatment options to extend life expectancy, including surgery.

• Stage III. Stage III mesothelioma is characterized by the spreading of the cancer to tissues near the pleura, such as the chest wall or lungs. It may have spread to the lymph nodes. Symptoms are more severe and treatment options are limited.

• Stage IV. The most advanced stage of mesothelioma is metastatic. The cancer has spread to lymph nodes, to the other side of the chest cavity, and to other distant areas of the body. Treatment options are limited and focused on palliative care.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

Mesothelioma cancer currently has no cure, which means that the prognosis is not usually positive. Additionally, the prognosis is often not very good because most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the later stages when treatment options are limited.

Each patient is different, and while one person may survive a year, another person may go on to live decades. Work with your physician on the best treatment options for you and your unique situation.

Treatment for Mesothelioma

Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or a combination of these have proven to be the most effective mesothelioma treatments so far. Whenever possible, oncologists recommend surgery to remove as much of the cancerous tissue as possible.

Patients who are not good candidates for surgery are in stage III or IV or are in poor physical condition or poor health.

Patients who undergo surgery are then usually given chemotherapy or radiation to try to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. Those who cannot have surgery may be given one or both of these treatments to slow the cancer spread and extend life.

Mesothelioma research is ongoing, and some exciting emerging treatments may help more patients in the future:

• Better, more targeted chemotherapy drugs that are selective for cancer cells.
• Photodynamic therapy, which uses light-activated drugs to target tumors.
• Immunotherapy, a treatment that harnesses the patient’s own immune system to target and kill cancer cells.
• Gene therapy may allow manipulation of cancer cell genes to make them easier to kill.
• Virus therapy is in the very early stages of research but may be useful in harnessing viruses to attack and kill cancer cells selectively.

In addition to traditional medical treatments, many mesothelioma patients can benefit from a range of complementary and alternative therapies.

Specific herbs and vitamins, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, and holistic healing, among others, may help reduce symptoms and make patients more comfortable.

Mesothelioma is a difficult diagnosis. This disease is life-threatening and frustratingly preventable. If you or a loved one received a mesothelioma diagnosis, contact an experienced lawyer to find out what you can do about it.

Getting Legal Help

Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. Keep in mind that if you have mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for considerable compensation. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.