Mesothelioma Cancer: Types, Symptoms and Asbestos Exposure

Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 15 Jun 2011 - Updated: 1 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information explains how mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos, can take 20 to 50 years to appear. That long delay is why new cases are still being diagnosed long after heavy industrial use of asbestos ended. It draws on a study in Environmental Health Perspectives that was the first to directly link how much asbestos a country used with how many people there die of mesothelioma. The United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany ranked highest on both counts. The same study estimated that for every four to five cases detected, at least one more goes unreported, meaning many people have likely died without ever knowing they had the disease. The guide also describes the three main forms of mesothelioma and the symptoms each one tends to cause. It names the jobs with the highest exposure risk, including mechanics, custodians, construction and demolition crews, and shipyard workers. That makes it a practical resource for retired tradespeople, seniors and families trying to connect unexplained symptoms to past exposure.

At a Glance

• 1 - Asbestos was used in nearly 100 countries for most of the twentieth century because it was cheap, durable and versatile.
• 2 - Pericardial mesothelioma makes up only about five percent of cases and can cause fever, chest pain and an irregular heartbeat.
• 3 - Asbestosis causes symptoms similar to black lung in miners, including chronic cough, low blood oxygen and gradual loss of lung function.
• 4 - Night sweats, difficulty swallowing and lumps in the chest are among the lesser-known symptoms reported by pleural mesothelioma patients.

Topic Definition

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity, abdomen, heart and, in rare cases, the testes. Nearly all cases are linked to inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers, which become trapped in this lining and cause cell damage that can turn cancerous 20 to 50 years later. The disease is named by where it starts: pleural mesothelioma in the lining of the lungs is by far the most common, followed by peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen, with pericardial and testicular forms being rare. Because early symptoms are vague and the cancer is often found at an advanced stage, prognosis is usually poor, though surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy can extend survival and ease symptoms.

Overview

Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal published by the NIEHS, recently released the results of a 2011 study that for the first time directly links a geographical area's prevalence of asbestos use to mesothelioma-related deaths. Not surprisingly, the countries in the world with the highest use of asbestos - America, Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany - report the highest number of fatal asbestos-related cancers among their citizens.

Due to the decades-long period between prolonged asbestos exposure and the onset of symptomatic mesothelioma, it is difficult to determine a truly accurate estimate of the number of deaths linked to this invasive type of cancer. However, the Environmental Health Perspectives study indicates that for every four-to-five cases of mesothelioma that are detected, at least one other case stays unreported. This means that thousands of people have likely died from a disease they didn't even know they had.

What is Asbestos?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), asbestos is the generic name given to a group of minerals used in numerous industrial settings for the purposes of fireproofing, temperature regulation and preventing corrosion. Its various purposes were first realized in the early 1900s, and it was subsequently used in nearly 100 countries around the world for the greater part of the twentieth century due to its easy availability, low cost, durability and versatility. Asbestos was used in a number of different industries, including vehicle manufacturing, construction and oil drilling.

The wide range of uses for asbestos means that millions of people were exposed to it during the heyday of its industrial presence, including people working in such varying occupations as:

• Mechanics
• Custodians
• Car builders
• Construction/demolition workers
• Shipyard workers responsible for the construction, renovation or demolition of shipping vessels

What Are the Consequences of Asbestos Exposure?

Until recent years, the most frequently diagnosed asbestos-related ailment was asbestosis, a condition in which the inhalation of microscopic asbestos fibers caused scarring in the lungs of the affected person. Asbestosis results in symptoms similar to those suffered by miners affected by so-called "black lung": chronic cough, lowered blood oxygen levels and gradual loss of lung function. It often results in disability and sometimes advances to the point of death.

As both science and time have progressed, however, mesothelioma is rapidly becoming the most prevalent asbestos-related illness. Although asbestos has been banned from widespread use in the United States since the early 1970s (and much of the world has followed suit), the extremely long development period of mesothelioma - the disease can take between 20 and 50 years to fully manifest itself - has resulted in a boon of diagnoses.

There are three main types of mesothelioma:

• Pleural - primarily affecting the lung and chest regions, pleural mesothelioma is the most common type, accounting for 75-80 percent or more of all cases
• Peritoneal - thickening of the peritoneal lining in the abdominal cavity, affecting the abdominal region and internal organs
• Pericardial - affecting the pericardial sac (the protective covering of the heart), this type of mesothelioma causes a thickening of the lining of the pericardium and fluid buildup inside the sac

What Kinds of Symptoms Does Mesothelioma Cause?

Depending on the location of the cancer, the symptoms can vary, but the following have been reported by pleural mesothelioma victims:

• Night sweats
• Difficulty swallowing
• Lumps in the chest area
• Spontaneous weight loss
• Persistent chest/rib pain, often worse when taking deep breaths
• Chronic non-productive cough with accompanying shortness of breath

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are primarily felt in the abdominal/intestinal area and include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Lumps in the torso area
• Abdominal swelling and/or pain
• Significant, unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained nausea and/or vomiting
• Significant change in bowel habits including sudden-onset diarrhea or constipation

Pericardial mesothelioma is still relatively rare, accounting for only about five percent of all diagnosed cases, and less information is known about symptoms that are specific to this disease.

Diagnosed patients have reported a number of common ailments including:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Pain in the chest
• Irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
• Shortness of breath when resting made worse by activity

Workers who currently work in or have worked in shipyards, refineries, chemical plants, power-generating facilities, mines and factories are at risk of exposure to asbestos. Because of that, they are at risk for developing asbestosis, mesothelioma or other asbestos-related occupational diseases. If you or a loved one has suffered prolonged asbestos exposure and are now dealing with irreparable health damage, contact an experienced defective products attorney in your area to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosis usually begins with a chest X-ray or CT scan, followed by a biopsy to confirm the cancer. A pathologist uses special tissue stains to tell mesothelioma apart from lung cancer and other tumors.

What is the life expectancy after a mesothelioma diagnosis?

Median survival is often around 12 to 21 months, but it varies widely with the type, stage and cell type of the cancer and the patient's overall health. Some patients treated early live many years.

Can a short period of asbestos exposure cause mesothelioma?

Yes. Although heavy, long-term exposure carries the greatest risk, there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure, and some people have developed mesothelioma after brief or secondhand exposure.

How is mesothelioma different from asbestos-related lung cancer?

Lung cancer starts inside the lung tissue itself, while mesothelioma starts in the thin lining around the lungs or other organs. Smoking greatly raises lung cancer risk from asbestos but does not appear to raise mesothelioma risk directly.

Is there a fourth type of mesothelioma?

Yes. Testicular mesothelioma develops in the lining around the testes. It is extremely rare, making up well under one percent of cases, and often has a better outlook than other forms.

Why are veterans at higher risk of mesothelioma?

Asbestos was used heavily in military ships, vehicles and buildings for much of the twentieth century. Navy veterans who worked in shipyards or engine and boiler rooms are among those with the highest exposure.

Is immunotherapy used to treat mesothelioma?

Yes. The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab is approved in the United States as a first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma that cannot be removed with surgery, and it has improved survival for many patients.

Is there a blood test for mesothelioma?

Some blood tests measure markers such as soluble mesothelin-related peptides, which can help doctors monitor the disease. However, no blood test can confirm mesothelioma on its own, and a biopsy is still required.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Mesothelioma is easy to miss because its early signs look like ordinary illness. A nagging cough, fatigue, swelling in the abdomen or weight loss rarely sends a doctor straight to a rare cancer, especially when the exposure behind it happened decades earlier at a job the patient may barely remember. Workers from refineries, chemical plants, power stations, mines and factories carry that risk long after retirement. Anyone with that kind of work history should tell their doctor about it up front and ask whether imaging or a referral to a specialist makes sense. Treatment has improved, and immunotherapy has opened new options for some patients, so getting care from a team that sees mesothelioma regularly can make a real difference in both outcomes and quality of life.

Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.