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Mesothelioma: asbestos-related cancer of the lung or abdominal lining

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lining around the lungs or inside the abdomen. The most common cause is inhaling asbestos fibres many years earlier.

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  • Mesothelioma is a rare malignant tumour, usually of the lung lining and sometimes the abdominal lining, strongly associated with asbestos exposure.
  • The disease often develops only decades after exposure; brief or indirect exposure may be relevant.
  • Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include increasing breathlessness, chest pain, cough, fatigue and weight loss.
  • Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause abdominal swelling and pain, altered bowel habits, nausea and weight loss.
  • A scan alone is usually insufficient; fluid testing and especially tissue examination determine the type.
  • Treatment may include systemic therapy, surgery or radiotherapy in selected people, and always active symptom care.
  • Pleural fluid, pain, nutritional problems, blood clots and breathlessness can be treated specifically, even if a cure is not possible.
  • Severe breathlessness, chest pain with fainting or coughing up blood needs immediate help.

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