What is mesothelioma?

Last updated: May 18, 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy by Zachry Sandifer

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the mesothelium, which is the thin layer of tissue around certain organs, most often the lungs. This is known as pleural mesothelioma. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pleural mesothelioma accounts for 82.1% of all mesothelioma cases.

  • Peritoneal mesothelioma: occurring in the tissue in the abdomen
  • Pericardial mesothelioma: occurring in the tissue in the heart
  • Testicular mesothelioma: occurring in the tissue around the testicles

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Chest pain
  • Painful coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Lumps under the skin on the chest

Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms may include:

  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Stomach pain
  • Swelling in the stomach
  • Unexplained weight loss

Pericardial mesothelioma may cause symptoms such as trouble breathing and chest pains. Testicular mesothelioma may first appear as swelling or a mass on a testicle.

As stated by the American Lung Association, symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until the illness has reached an advanced stage. This could happen years or even decades after exposure to asbestos and is known as a latency period. Although symptoms vary based on where the tumor is in the body, most people experience fatigue, fever, and weight loss.

The journey to a mesothelioma diagnosis can look different for every person. Because the disease is rare and its symptoms often mirror those of more common illnesses, it’s not unusual for doctors to initially mistake it for something less serious or even a different type of cancer.

Reaching an accurate diagnosis typically involves multiple tests, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, biopsies, and PET scans, each performed by different specialists. For most people, the process from noticing symptoms to receiving a confirmed diagnosis takes anywhere from two to three months, and sometimes even longer.

Getting diagnosed as early as possible is crucial because it opens the door to more treatment options that can help extend and improve your life. That’s why connecting with a mesothelioma specialist as soon as you can is so important.

To diagnose mesothelioma, your doctor will begin by conducting a physical examination to check for abnormalities such as lumps and reviewing your medical and occupational history. Imaging tests such as a chest X-ray or CT scan may be ordered. In some cases, these scans may show fluid accumulation between the lung and chest wall, known as pleural effusion.

If pleural fluid is detected, your doctor will typically remove it using an ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. This procedure is mainly done to rule out other causes of fluid accumulation and usually isn’t sufficient on its own to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

The next step in diagnosing mesothelioma is a biopsy. A tissue sample can be collected from the chest wall using CT or ultrasound guidance under local anesthesia. The sample is then examined to determine whether mesothelioma is present and, if so, which type. After a diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor may conduct additional tests to identify the stage of the cancer.

Along with a chest CT scan, tests like an MRI or PET scan can help to identify other affected areas. If the cancer has spread beyond the original site, further biopsies may be necessary.

Courtesy of the American Lung Association.

While mesothelioma is a serious and aggressive disease, treatment options are available that can help extend patients’ lives and their quality of life. How the diagnosis is treated depends on several factors, including the stage and location of the cancer, as well as the person’s overall health.

Surgery

  • If mesothelioma is detected early enough, surgical removal of all or part of the cancer may be a possibility. If it is not an option to remove it completely, surgery can help reduce symptoms such as fluid buildup that is causing difficulty breathing.

Chemotherapy

  • Chemotherapy is another treatment used to reduce symptoms of mesothelioma through chemicals put into the body through an IV. This can help to shrink and slow the growth of mesothelioma.

Other Treatment Options

  • Additional treatment options for mesothelioma include targeted therapy, which uses drugs designed to attack cancer cells in the body, and immunotherapy, which harnesses the patient’s own immune system to fight the disease. While these methods are not commonly used for mesothelioma, doctors may recommend them if other treatments prove ineffective. Radiation therapy may also be used to eliminate cancer cells in specific areas or as palliative care to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Palliative care is treatment that focuses more on quality of life than length of life.

Courtesy of the American Lung Association.

Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Exposure may occur in a number of ways, but the most common source of exposure has been known to occur in the workplace.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you were exposed to asbestos and can file a claim. Mesothelioma is exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, making the diagnosis eligible for compensation.

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and have a history of asbestos exposure, you may have a claim. Since lung cancer can result from multiple causes, we’ll need to evaluate your specific exposure history and medical records to determine eligibility.

In addition to those diagnosed, the following individuals may also have claims:

  • Spouses and partners
  • Legal heirs and children
  • Dependents
  • Legal representatives

Contact us

We have helped many people navigate their legal options after a preventable diagnosis such as mesothelioma, and we are ready to give our all for you, too. Every case is different and requires experience and knowledge to navigate.

Call our main office at 855-919-8179 or send a general email to set up a case evaluation to see if the Holland Law Firm can help you.

With offices in downtown St. Louis, MO and Madison County, Il we bring unmatched courtroom results to bear for our clients throughout the region.