Mesothelioma

Name: What is Mesothelioma?
Uploaded: 2024-09-12T00:00:00-04:00
Description: Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It forms in the lining of the lungs, heart, abdomen, or testicles 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles after asbestos exposure. Though this cancer is aggressive, you can potentially live longer with medical care. Lung Cancer Group can help you find top doctors who treat mesothelioma and seek compensation for expenses, if eligible.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: February 20, 2025

Top Topics:

Risks
Stages
Symptoms
Diagnosis

What Is Mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, a layer of tissue inside the body, after asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma cancer tumors can spread quickly, but long-term survival could be possible by getting treatments from experienced cancer doctors.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It forms in the lining of the lungs, heart, abdomen, or testicles 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.

Duration: 1 min 30 sec

Quick Facts About Mesothelioma

Around 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed every year.
The average life expectancy is 12-21 months, but some patients live for 25+ years.
It’s not a type of lung cancer, but many cases affect the lining of the lungs.
Symptoms develop 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.
U.S. veterans account for 1 in 3 mesothelioma patients.
You may qualify for mesothelioma compensation worth $1 million or more on average.

If eligible, Lung Cancer Group can help answer your questions after a mesothelioma diagnosis, find top doctors, and pursue financial compensation.

Get started by speaking with our registered mesothelioma nurses right now.

Mesothelioma vs. Lung Cancer

Is mesothelioma lung cancer? Both lung cancer and mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure, but the two conditions aren’t the same.

Mesothelioma forms in the lining of different organs, including the lungs or abdomen, and is only caused by asbestos exposure.
Lung cancer develops in the lungs themselves. It’s mainly caused by smoking, but asbestos, radon, and more can also lead to lung cancer.

The good news is our team may be able to help patients with mesothelioma and lung cancer. Call (877) 446-5767 now to learn more.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms typically appear 10-50 years after asbestos exposure. Symptoms can vary depending on where the cancer develops.

The most common mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, a cough that won’t go away, shortness of breath, and pleural effusion (fluid buildup in the lung lining).

Other symptoms of mesothelioma include:

Abdominal pain
Appetite loss
Blood clots
Cough (or coughing up blood)
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Fever
Unexplained weight loss

See a doctor immediately if you have any mesothelioma symptoms and were exposed to asbestos. An early diagnosis could allow you to access more effective treatments.

What Is the Main Cause of Mesothelioma?

The only known mesothelioma cause is asbestos exposure in veterans and civilians.

Here’s how asbestos leads to mesothelioma:

If a product containing asbestos wears out, breaks down, or gets disturbed, tiny fibers can enter the air.
Once in the air, you could breathe in or swallow the asbestos fibers without noticing.
The fibers can get stuck in the linings of major organs and cause irritation.
After 10-50 years, healthy cells can mutate into mesothelioma cancer cells.

“If there’s no asbestos, there’s no mesothelioma. It’s that simple. If you have mesothelioma, and you say, ‘Well, I’ve never been exposed to asbestos,’ you were exposed to it. You just don’t know where or you don’t know when.”

— Dr. Raja Flores, mesothelioma doctor

Manufacturers of asbestos products hid the health risks until the truth came to light in the early 1980s. However, by this point, millions had been exposed. Thousands are diagnosed every year since mesothelioma takes decades to form after exposure.

Who Is at Risk of Mesothelioma?

Anyone exposed to asbestos could get sick decades later. However, those at the highest risk worked with or around asbestos at their jobs, according to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

High-risk mesothelioma jobs included:

Boilermakers
Construction workers
Electricians
Mechanics
Military service members
Plumbers
Power plant workers
Shipyard workers

These workers might have worked with asbestos products like insulation and cement every day. Family members were also at risk of secondhand exposure, since workers could carry asbestos fibers home on their clothing, hair, and skin.

If you’re worried about mesothelioma, our registered nurses can help you find top doctors to diagnose and treat you. Find out your eligibility now.

Mesothelioma Types

There are four mesothelioma types, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Each one affects a different area of the body. Learn about the types of mesothelioma below.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs (pleura) before spreading to other parts of the body. It is the most common type, accounting for 80% to 85% of all mesothelioma cases.

The best treatment is usually surgery to remove cancer tumors. Other therapies like chemotherapy and radiation can also help kill cancer cells.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second-most common type, making up 10% to 15% of cases. It develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum).

Peritoneal mesothelioma patients often live longer thanks to a treatment called cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC (heated chemotherapy).

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is very rare, with only a few hundred cases ever reported. It forms in the lining of the heart (pericardium).

Surgeries and other treatments can often help patients who are diagnosed before the cancer has spread.

Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest type, with fewer than 300 documented cases. It develops in the lining of the testicles (tunica vaginalis).

Testicular mesothelioma can often be surgically treated if it’s caught early on, and some patients have lived for 10 years or more.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Several tests are used to make a mesothelioma diagnosis. Doctors will first perform a physical exam and note any possible symptoms.

They may then use imaging tests to look inside the body for potential cancer tumors or other signs of disease.

Imaging scans to diagnose mesothelioma include:

Chest X-rays
CT scans
MRI scans
PET scans

You may then need a biopsy if doctors think you have cancer. With a biopsy, doctors remove fluid or tissue samples and look at them under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present. This is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Stages of Mesothelioma

Doctors use stages to describe how far mesothelioma has spread. Your mesothelioma stage greatly impacts your treatment options and overall health outlook.

There are four stages of pleural mesothelioma. The other types are not classified into these same stages, but doctors may informally say you’re in an early or late stage depending on your cancer spread.

Stage 1

Stage 1 mesothelioma is the least advanced stage and easiest to treat. Mesothelioma tumors are contained in the lining of the chest wall. Doctors can treat this stage with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and more.

Stage 2

Stage 2 mesothelioma has spread into the lungs, nearby lymph nodes, or diaphragm (the muscle that controls breathing). Many treatments are still available at this stage, including surgery.

Stage 3

In cases of stage 3 mesothelioma, tumors may be found deep in the chest wall, spine, and many lymph nodes. Mesothelioma surgery may or may not be possible.

Stage 4

Stage 4 mesothelioma is the most advanced stage. Metastasis (cancer spread) has occurred and tumors have reached the liver, bones, and more. Surgery isn’t an option, though some patients can live a long time with other treatments.

Mesothelioma Cell Types

Mesothelioma tumors are made up of different types of cells. Some are easier to treat than others, which can affect your health outlook.

Learn about each mesothelioma cell type below.

Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Epithelioid (or epithelial) mesothelioma is the most common cell type, accounting for 70% of all cases.

Epithelial cells grow rapidly but stick together, making the cancer spread less quickly than the other cell types. Because of this, epithelial mesothelioma is the easiest type to treat.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the least common cell type. It accounts for 10-15% of mesothelioma cases.

It’s hard to treat since these cells spread faster than epithelioid cells. That said, treatments can still help ease symptoms and allow patients to live longer.

Biphasic Mesothelioma

Biphasic mesothelioma tumors contain both epithelial and sarcomatoid cells. This is the second- most common cell type. It’s easier to treat if there are more epithelioid cells.

Treatment is available for mesothelioma, no matter which cell type you have. Work with our mesothelioma nurses to get help accessing treatments.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

Mesothelioma prognosis is the expected course your cancer will take. Doctors give a mesothelioma prognosis based on your cancer type, stage, and overall health.

Most mesothelioma patients only live a few years after a diagnosis. However, a prognosis is not set in stone, and some patients survive for decades.

A prognosis is measured with two figures: life expectancy (how long patients live on average) and survival rate (percent of patients still alive after a set period of time).

Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy for mesothelioma patients is 12-21 months. Your mesothelioma life expectancy could vary depending on the unique factors in your case. Some patients have lived for 25 years or more.

“A lot of people can go on living for years with mesothelioma. And the goal is to just continue living for as long as somebody is feeling well and doing well.”

— Dr. Andrea Wolf, mesothelioma doctor

Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Mesothelioma has a 5-year survival rate of 12%, according to the ACS. However, survival rates can vary greatly by type and other factors. Peritoneal mesothelioma and testicular mesothelioma both have 5-year survival rates of nearly 50%.

You can use survival rate figures to get a general idea of how long you may live, but you could live longer than the average statistics.

Mesothelioma Survivor Stories

Mesothelioma patients can sometimes live for years or even decades longer than expected. Hear stories from mesothelioma survivors below.

Julie (diagnosed 2006)
Julie was diagnosed with mesothelioma in her 30s after being exposed to asbestos as a child. Her father, an electrician, died of asbestos lung cancer a year before her diagnosis. Julie is still alive today thanks to treatment.

Mary Jane (diagnosed 2003)
Mary Jane learned she had peritoneal mesothelioma after complaining of abdominal swelling for a year. Her cancer went into long-term remission after treatment and she became a 15-year survivor.

John (diagnosed 2019)
John has defied the odds and outlived his prognosis after his stage 4 pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. While most patients in this stage live just a few months, John is still enjoying life today following chemotherapy.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Different mesothelioma treatments allow doctors to shrink or remove tumors, kill cells, and ease symptoms. Learn about mesothelioma treatment options below.

Surgery

Mesothelioma surgeries allow doctors to cut out cancer tumors from the body.

Top mesothelioma surgeries include:

Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Used to treat pleural mesothelioma by removing the lung, lining of the lung, and part of the diaphragm closest to the cancer tumors
Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): Also used to treat pleural mesothelioma by taking out the lung lining but without removing a lung
Cytoreduction with HIPEC: Used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma by combining cancer-removing surgery with heated chemotherapy

Surgeries are typically used on early-stage patients as doctors can remove all visible tumors and patients can recover with fewer complications.

Chemotherapy

Doctors use chemotherapy (cancer-killing medications) to destroy mesothelioma cancer cells. It’s given in cycles (treatment with breaks in between) to ease side effects like hair loss. Low doses may also be used as palliative care to lessen discomfort.

Call (877) 446-5767 to speak with a nurse who can answer your medical questions and help find the best mesothelioma treatments for you.

Radiation

Radiation therapy breaks down cancer cells using high-powered X-ray beams. Doctors may use radiation along with other treatments like surgery to kill as much of the cancer as possible.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy boosts the immune system to help the body find and destroy cancer cells. This newer treatment has shown promise in treating mesothelioma, particularly when combined with other therapies.

Clinical Trials & New Treatments

Doctors use mesothelioma clinical trials to study newer treatments that may improve survival or reduce symptoms.

Newer mesothelioma treatments include:

Cryoablation: A spray freezes and destroys mesothelioma tumors.
Photodynamic therapy: Light-activated drugs kill cancer cells.
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFs): Electrically charged pads stop the cancer from spreading. It was approved as a major treatment after success in trials.

Ask your mesothelioma specialist if there are nearby clinical trials that you may be able to join.

Top Mesothelioma Doctors

Mesothelioma oncologists (cancer doctors) dedicate their practice to treating this rare cancer. They see mesothelioma patients on a daily basis, allowing them to recommend the most effective treatment plans.

Top mesothelioma doctors include:

Dr. Richard Alexander: Dr. Alexander treats peritoneal mesothelioma at the Rutgers Cancer Institute in New Jersey. He’s been helping patients for decades.
Dr. Robert Cameron: Dr. Cameron has nearly 30 years of experience and invented the P/D surgery to treat pleural mesothelioma. He treats both veterans and civilians in California.
Dr. Raja Flores: Dr. Flores has been treating pleural mesothelioma for over 25 years. He leads Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Department of Thoracic Surgery in New York.
Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler: Dr. Kindler leads the University of Chicago’s mesothelioma program and has more than 25 years of experience. She can treat both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Dr. James Pingpank: Based in Pittsburgh’s UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Dr. Pingpank has studied and treated peritoneal mesothelioma for more than 20 years.
Dr. Taylor Ripley: Dr. Ripley serves as the director of Baylor St. Luke’s Mesothelioma Treatment Center in Texas. He and his team work to help pleural mesothelioma patients live longer.

“Just because someone’s an oncologist doesn’t mean they see a lot of mesothelioma, so you want to see someone that’s a real mesothelioma specialist.”

— Dr. Raja Flores, mesothelioma doctor

Our on-staff registered nurses can help you find top mesothelioma doctors who can create a custom treatment plan for you. Find out if you qualify.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

Since mesothelioma is so rare, you’ll need to get treated at a cancer center with doctors on staff who specialize in this cancer.

There are dozens of mesothelioma hospitals located throughout the country.

Top mesothelioma cancer centers include:

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, TX
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX
Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, NY
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chicago, IL
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX
VA Boston Healthcare System in Boston, MA
Washington Cancer Institute in Washington, D.C.
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA

If eligible, our team can assist in finding mesothelioma cancer centers near you. Call (877) 446-5767 now.

Mesothelioma Compensation Options

Mesothelioma patients often qualify for different forms of financial compensation after a diagnosis.

Mesothelioma compensation can help offset treatment costs — which often exceed $400,000 — and keep a patient’s family financially secure in the event they pass away.

Mesothelioma compensation options include:

Asbestos lawsuits: Mesothelioma and lung cancer lawsuits allow patients to seek payouts from makers of asbestos-containing products. Mesothelioma lawsuits award $1 million or more on average.
Asbestos trust funds: Bankrupt asbestos companies set up trust funds to avoid lawsuits but still pay mesothelioma patients. A lawyer can help patients access some of the $30 billion available in the trust funds.
VA benefits: U.S. veterans are at high risk of mesothelioma due to military asbestos exposure. Veterans usually get over $4,000 a month and low-cost or free cancer treatments through benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Patients can work with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to pursue these different forms of compensation. Top mesothelioma attorneys will do all of the work related to filing legal claims and securing a strong payout.

Get a free case review now now to learn if you can pursue compensation for asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma.

We Help Mesothelioma Patients and Families

Mesothelioma is rare and aggressive, so a diagnosis raises a lot of questions and concerns.

If eligible, Lung Cancer Group can help you and your family find the resources you need throughout your cancer journey.

Here are the next steps we recommend:

Call (877) 446-5767 to speak with our Patient Advocates and nurses.
Work with our team to find top doctors and treatments near you.
Explore your legal options by consulting with a mesothelioma lawyer.
File for or get help maximizing your VA benefits if you’re a veteran.

We’ve seen the effects of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure firsthand and will do everything we can to help you.

Connect with our mesothelioma nurses now to get started.

Mesothelioma FAQs

What is the survival rate for mesothelioma?

The 5-year mesothelioma survival rate is 12%, but you may be able to live longer depending on your diagnosis and how your body responds to treatments.

Your doctor can update you on what to expect as you undergo treatment.

Has anyone ever survived mesothelioma?

Yes, many mesothelioma patients have become long-term survivors — including those who were given just months to live. Some mesothelioma patients have lived for 25 years or more.

Our registered nurses can help mesothelioma patients find treatments to help them live longer with this cancer. Find out your eligibility by calling (877) 446-5767.

What triggers mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is only caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma by burrowing into the linings of healthy organs and irritating them.

After 10-50 years, normal cells can turn into malignant mesothelioma cells.

Is mesothelioma 100% fatal?

No, mesothelioma is not 100% fatal. By getting treatment, you could live much longer than initially expected.

For example, John was diagnosed with stage 4 pleural mesothelioma in 2019 but is still alive today thanks to the chemotherapy treatments he received.

What age is mesothelioma most common?

Mesothelioma is most common in people over the age of 65. This is because the cancer typically develops decades after asbestos exposure.

A study published in Lung Cancer International found that 66% of mesothelioma patients were 65 or older. However, even people in their 20s or 30s can develop this cancer after asbestos exposure.

What is the difference between mesothelioma and lung cancer?

Mesothelioma is not the same illness as lung cancer. Mesothelioma develops in the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles, while lung cancer forms in the lung itself.

Only asbestos causes mesothelioma. Lung cancer can develop due to smoking, radon, or other toxins like asbestos.

Our team can help patients with lung cancer or mesothelioma of the lung pursue compensation after a diagnosis. Call (877) 446-5767 to find out if you qualify.

What is mesothelioma remission?

Mesothelioma remission is when your cancer goes away. You can work toward remission by getting treatments to remove or shrink cancer tumors.

Your cancer could come back after it enters remission, though. This is called recurrence. Regular cancer screenings help catch cancer recurrence early if you’re in remission.

Who is the longest living person with mesothelioma?

Paul Kraus is considered the longest-living mesothelioma survivor. Diagnosed with advanced peritoneal mesothelioma in 1997, he credits dietary changes with helping him achieve long-term survival.

Treatments and care from mesothelioma specialists can potentially allow you to live longer as well.