Mesothelioma

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

The tissue that lines your lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs is called mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a tumor of that tissue. It usually starts in the lungs, but can also start in the abdomen or other organs. It can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer.)

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but serious type of cancer. Most people who get it have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. After being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes a long time for the disease to form.

Symptoms include

• Trouble breathing
• Pain under the rib cage
• Pain, swelling, or lumps in the abdomen
• Weight loss for no known reason

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. Your doctor uses imaging tests and a biopsy to make the diagnosis. Malignant mesothelioma is often found when it is advanced. This makes it harder to treat. Treatment may include surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• General Information about Malignant Mesothelioma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Mesothelioma (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• What Is Malignant Mesothelioma? (American Cancer Society)

Diagnosis and Tests

• How Is Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosed? (American Cancer Society)
• Stages of Malignant Mesothelioma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Can Malignant Mesothelioma Be Found Early? (American Cancer Society)
• Do We Know What Causes Malignant Mesothelioma? (American Cancer Society)

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Malignant Mesothelioma (National Cancer Institute)
• Treatment Option Overview (Malignant Mesothelioma) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Treatment Options for Malignant Mesothelioma (National Cancer Institute)

Living With

• Mesothelioma Treatment: Recovery, Side Effects, What to Expect (Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation)

Related Issues

• Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Peritoneal Mesothelioma (Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation)

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome (National Library of Medicine)

Statistics and Research

• What Are the Key Statistics about Malignant Mesothelioma? (American Cancer Society)
• What's New in Malignant Mesothelioma Research and Treatment? (American Cancer Society)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Mesothelioma (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Promising investigational drug candidates in phase I and phase II...
• Article: Palliative care for patients with mesothelioma.
• Article: First-in-human phase 1 of YS110, a monoclonal antibody directed against...
• Mesothelioma -- see more articles
• Asbestos related mesothelioma -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society
• American Lung Association
• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Mesothelioma - benign-fibrous (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Mesothelioma - malignant (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Understanding Chemotherapy (National Cancer Institute) - PDF Also in Spanish
• What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy (National Cancer Institute) - PDF Also in Spanish