Understanding Mesothelioma: Stages, Symptoms, Diagnosis & What Patients Should Know

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos, a mineral once widely used in construction, military applications, industrial manufacturing, and consumer products. Because symptoms often appear decades after exposure, many people are diagnosed only after the disease has already progressed.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue that surrounds major organs. The most common types include:

• - Pleural mesothelioma (lungs)
• - Peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen)
• - Pericardial mesothelioma (heart)
• - Testicular mesothelioma (testicles)

Asbestos fibers can stay in the body for decades. Over time, they cause inflammation and scarring that leads to cancer.

Mesothelioma Stages: How the Disease Progresses

Doctors typically use a four-stage system to describe how advanced mesothelioma is at the time of diagnosis.

Stage I

Mesothelioma is present in the right or left pleura and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side.

• - Cancer is localized to one area
• - Symptoms are mild or nonexistent
• - Best chance for aggressive treatment such as surgery

Stage II

• - Tumor has grown but is still primarily in one side of the chest
• - Symptoms may include chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath
• - Surgery may still be an option

Stage III

• - Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues
• - Symptoms become more noticeable and persistent
• - Multimodal therapy (surgery, chemo, immunotherapy) may be recommended

Stage IV

• - Cancer has metastized to distant organs
• - Symptoms are severe and quality of life becomes the primary of focus
• - Treatment aims to manage pain and slow progression

Common Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms vary by type and stage but can include

Pleural Mesothelioma

• - Chest pain or pressure
• - Shortness of breath
• - Dry cough
• - Fatigue
• - Fluid buildup in the chest

Pericardial Mesothelioma

• - Chest pain or pressure
• - Shortness of breath
• - Dry cough
• - Fatigue
• - Fluid buildup in the chest

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

• - Abdominal pain or swelling
• - Changes in appetite
• - Nausea
• - Weight loss
• - Bowel changes

Trades with Asbestos Exposure

The following trades have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma cancer:

• Miners and drillmen
• Offshore rust removals
• Manufactured asbestos products
• Vehicle repair
• Power plants
• Ship builders
• Railway workers
• Construction workers
• Maritime workers
• Oil refinery workers
• Abrasive manufacturers
• Steel mills

Occupations

The following occupations have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma cancer:

• - Auto Mechanics
• - Hod carriers
• - Insulators
• - Plumbers
• - Merchant marines
• - Millwrights
• - Operating Engineers
• - Painters
• - Plasterers
• - Roofers
• - Sand blasters
• - Sheet metal workers
• - Laborers
• - Longshoremen
• - Maintenance workers
• - Bricklayers
• - Building Inspectors
• - Carpenters
• - Dry wall workers
• - Electricians
• - Floor Coverings
• - Furnace Workers
• - Glazers
• - Boiler makers
• - Iron workers
• - Grinders
• - Steam fitters
• - Tile seters
• - Welders
• - United States Navy veterans
• - Welders