The Word That Changes Everything
You go to the doctor for a cough that will not go away. Maybe you have some chest pain. Maybe your belly feels swollen. You think it is nothing serious. Then the doctor says a word you have never heard before. Mesothelioma.
Your mind goes blank. You do not know what it means. You do not know what comes next. All you know is that the doctor looks serious. Too serious.
Take a breath. You are going to get through this.
Mesothelioma is a rare and serious cancer. But it is not a death sentence the way it used to be. New treatments have changed the outlook for many patients. And there is something else you need to know. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. That means the companies that made and sold asbestos products are responsible. And that means you may be entitled to significant financial compensation.
This guide will walk you through everything. You will learn what mesothelioma is, what treatment options are available, how to find the best doctors, what your prognosis might be, and how to get the money you need to pay for it all. No complicated language. No fear-mongering. Just honest, practical information to help you fight this disease.
Understanding Mesothelioma: The Basics
Let us start with the simple explanation.
Your body has a thin layer of tissue that covers your internal organs. This tissue is called the mesothelium. It protects your organs and helps them move smoothly against each other. When you breathe, your lungs slide against your chest wall. The mesothelium makes that possible.
Mesothelioma is cancer of that tissue.
There are four types of mesothelioma, based on where the cancer starts.
Pleural Mesothelioma
This is the most common type. About three out of four people with mesothelioma have this type. It starts in the tissue around the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, a cough that does not go away, and feeling very tired.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
This is the second most common type. About one out of five people with mesothelioma have this type. It starts in the tissue around the belly. Symptoms include belly pain, swelling in the abdomen, nausea, weight loss, and feeling very tired.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
This is very rare. It starts in the tissue around the heart. Symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing.
Testicular Mesothelioma
This is extremely rare. It starts in the tissue around the testicles. The main symptom is a lump or swelling.
For the rest of this guide, we will focus mainly on pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, since they are the most common.
What Causes Mesothelioma?
Almost every case of mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that were used for decades in thousands of products. Why? Because asbestos fibers are strong, heat-resistant, and cheap. They were perfect for insulation, fireproofing, and strengthening materials.
But there was a deadly downside. When asbestos is disturbed, tiny fibers float into the air. You cannot see them. You cannot smell them. You breathe them in without knowing it. Those fibers get stuck in your lungs or swallowed into your stomach. Your body cannot break them down or get rid of them.
Over many years, sometimes twenty to fifty years, those fibers cause inflammation and scarring. Eventually, that inflammation can turn into cancer.
Who Was Exposed?
If you have mesothelioma, you almost certainly were exposed to asbestos at some point. The most common exposures happened in the workplace.
Shipyard workers: Asbestos was used heavily in shipbuilding. Pipes, boilers, engines, and insulation all contained asbestos. Workers who built, repaired, or maintained ships were surrounded by it.
Construction workers: Asbestos was used in insulation, drywall, roofing, siding, flooring, ceiling tiles, and many other building materials. Anyone who cut, sanded, or demolished these materials breathed in asbestos fibers.
Industrial workers: Factories, power plants, oil refineries, and chemical plants all used asbestos for insulation and fireproofing.
Military veterans: All branches of the military used asbestos. The Navy used the most, but Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps veterans were also exposed. Thousands of veterans have developed mesothelioma.
Plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and insulators: These trades worked directly with asbestos-containing materials every day.
Family members: Here is a heartbreaking fact. Family members of workers were also exposed. Asbestos fibers stuck to work clothes. When workers came home, they brought those fibers with them. Wives who shook out work clothes inhaled asbestos. Children who hugged their fathers after work inhaled asbestos.
If you have mesothelioma, you did nothing wrong. You were just doing your job or living your life. The companies that made and sold asbestos products are the ones at fault.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be vague. They can look like many other, less serious conditions. That is why mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed at first.
Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
- Shortness of breath, especially with activity
- Pain in your chest or under your ribcage
- A dry cough that will not go away
- Difficulty swallowing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Lumps under the skin on your chest
Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Pain or swelling in your abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Anemia (low red blood cells)
- Lumps under the skin on your belly
If you have these symptoms and you know or suspect you were exposed to asbestos, tell your doctor. Do not let them dismiss your concerns. You have the right to be tested.
Diagnosing Mesothelioma
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward getting the right treatment.
Imaging Scans
The first tests are usually imaging scans. A chest X-ray can show fluid around the lungs or thickening of the pleura. A CT scan gives a more detailed picture. It can show tumors and help doctors see if the cancer has spread.
Blood Tests
There is no blood test that can definitively diagnose mesothelioma. However, there are blood tests that look for substances that are often elevated in people with mesothelioma. These tests can help doctors decide if a biopsy is needed.
Biopsy
The only way to know for sure if you have mesothelioma is a biopsy. A doctor takes a small sample of tissue from the suspicious area. A pathologist looks at it under a microscope. If cancer cells are present, the pathologist can tell what type of cancer it is and what type of mesothelioma cells are involved.
There are three cell types. Epithelioid is the most common and responds best to treatment. Sarcomatoid is less common and more aggressive. Biphasic is a mix of both.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Mesothelioma treatment has come a long way. Patients today have more options and better outcomes than ever before.
Surgery
Surgery aims to remove as much of the cancer as possible. For some patients, surgery can remove all visible cancer.
For pleural mesothelioma: There are two main surgeries. An extrapleural pneumonectomy removes the affected lung, the pleura, part of the diaphragm, and part of the lining of the heart. This is a big surgery with a long recovery. A pleurectomy with decortication removes the pleura but leaves the lung. Recovery is easier, and it is safer for many patients.
For peritoneal mesothelioma: Cytoreductive surgery removes all visible tumors from the abdomen. This is often followed by HIPEC, which we will explain below.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs travel through your whole body, so they can reach cancer cells that have spread beyond the original tumor.
The standard chemotherapy for mesothelioma is a combination of two drugs: pemetrexed and cisplatin. Many patients receive this combination before surgery to shrink the tumor, or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles. You receive treatment for a few days, then rest for a few weeks, then repeat. Most patients have four to six cycles.
Side effects can include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, mouth sores, and increased risk of infection. But there are good medications now that help with most of these side effects.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, radiation is targeted to a specific area.
Radiation is often used after surgery to kill any tiny pieces of cancer that might have been left behind. It can also be used to shrink tumors that are causing pain, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms.
Radiation treatments are quick and painless. You lie on a table while a machine moves around you. Each session takes about fifteen minutes.
Side effects are usually limited to the area being treated. You might have skin redness, fatigue, or radiation pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs).
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a newer type of treatment that has shown great promise for mesothelioma. Instead of attacking the cancer directly, immunotherapy helps your own immune system recognize and attack the cancer cells.
The FDA has approved two immunotherapy drugs for mesothelioma: nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy). These drugs are given together through a needle in your arm every few weeks.
Immunotherapy does not work for everyone. But for some patients, it has helped them live much longer with fewer side effects than chemotherapy.
HIPEC for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
HIPEC stands for Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. It is used specifically for peritoneal mesothelioma.
Here is how it works. A surgeon performs cytoreductive surgery to remove all visible tumors from your abdomen. Then, heated chemotherapy is pumped directly into your abdomen for about ninety minutes. The heat helps the chemotherapy penetrate the tissues more effectively. After the treatment, the chemotherapy is drained out, and the surgeon closes the incision.
HIPEC has been a game-changer for many patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. Some patients have lived for many years after this treatment.
Understanding Your Mesothelioma Prognosis
Your mesothelioma prognosis is your expected outcome. This is one of the first things patients want to know. How long do I have?
The honest answer is that nobody knows for sure. Statistics can tell you what happened to groups of people in the past. They cannot tell you what will happen to you.
That said, here are the factors that affect prognosis.
Cell type: Epithelioid mesothelioma has the best prognosis. Sarcomatoid has the worst. Biphasic is in between.
Stage: Early stage mesothelioma (stage 1 or 2) has a better prognosis than late stage (stage 3 or 4). That is why early diagnosis is so important.
Patient health: Younger, healthier patients who have no other serious medical conditions do better than older, sicker patients.
Treatment: Patients who are able to have surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation have better outcomes than those who cannot.
Response to treatment: Some patients respond very well to treatment. Others do not. There is no way to predict this in advance.
Here is what the statistics say. The average life expectancy for mesothelioma is about 12 to 21 months. But that is an average. Many patients live much longer. Some patients live five, ten, or even twenty years after diagnosis. Do not let the statistics steal your hope.
Finding the Best Mesothelioma Doctors
You need a doctor who specializes in mesothelioma. This is not a cancer that general oncologists see very often. You want someone who treats mesothelioma patients every day.
Some of the best mesothelioma treatment centers in the United States include:
- MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York
- Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota
- UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas
Do not worry if you do not live near these centers. Many offer telehealth consultations. You can send your medical records to a specialist. They can review your case and recommend a treatment plan. You can receive some treatments locally and travel only for surgery or specialty procedures.
Your Legal Rights: Getting Financial Help
Here is something every mesothelioma patient needs to know. You may be entitled to significant financial compensation.
Companies that made and sold asbestos products knew about the dangers for decades. They had internal documents showing that asbestos caused cancer. They hid those documents. They continued to sell asbestos products. They did not warn workers or the public.
That is negligence. That is wrongful conduct. And the law says they must pay for the harm they caused.
Types of Compensation
Lawsuits: You can sue the companies that exposed you to asbestos. Most mesothelioma lawsuits settle out of court. The average settlement is between one million and two million dollars.
Asbestos bankruptcy trusts: Many asbestos companies went bankrupt because of all the lawsuits. When they went bankrupt, they were required to set aside money in trust funds for victims. There are over sixty of these trusts, holding more than thirty billion dollars. Your lawyer can file claims with multiple trusts.
VA benefits: If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for disability compensation and free health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a service-connected condition for veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their service.
Workers’ compensation: If you were exposed at work, you might be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. But these benefits are usually much smaller than what you can get from a lawsuit or trust fund.
Finding the Best Mesothelioma Lawyer
You need a lawyer who specializes in asbestos cases. Do not hire a general personal injury lawyer. Mesothelioma cases are complicated. You need someone who does this work every day.
The best mesothelioma lawyer will:
- Offer a free consultation
- Work on contingency (you pay nothing upfront; they only get paid if you get paid)
- Have handled hundreds or thousands of mesothelioma cases
- Have a track record of large settlements and verdicts
- Be willing to travel to you
Do not worry about finding a lawyer in your city. Mesothelioma lawyers work with clients all over the country. They can handle everything by phone, mail, and email.
How Much Does a Mesothelioma Lawyer Cost?
Nothing upfront. Mesothelioma lawyers work on contingency. That means they take a percentage of the money they win for you. Typical contingency fees are 25 to 40 percent. If they do not win anything, you pay nothing.
You have nothing to lose and potentially millions to gain. Do not let cost stop you from calling.
Clinical Trials: Accessing New Treatments
Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments. They offer access to treatments that are not yet available to the general public.
For mesothelioma patients who have not responded to standard treatments, clinical trials can be a lifeline. New immunotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, and combination treatments are being tested all the time.
To find clinical trials, ask your doctor. You can also search online at clinicaltrials.gov. A good mesothelioma specialist will know about trials that might be right for you.
Living with Mesothelioma: Taking Care of Yourself
Treatment is hard. It takes a toll on your body and your mind. Here are some ways to take care of yourself during this difficult time.
Rest when you need to. Your body is working hard to fight cancer and recover from treatment. Listen to what it tells you.
Eat as well as you can. Cancer and treatment can make it hard to eat. Ask to speak with a nutritionist. They can give you ideas for getting enough calories and protein even when you do not feel hungry.
Stay as active as you can. Gentle exercise like walking can help maintain your strength and improve your mood. Ask your doctor what is safe for you.
Ask for help. Friends and family want to help but often do not know how. Tell them what you need. A ride to treatment. Help with groceries. Someone to watch the kids.
Talk about your feelings. It is normal to feel sad, angry, scared, or numb. Talk to a counselor, a trusted friend, or a support group. Many cancer centers have free support services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
Every state has a deadline called the statute of limitations. It is usually one to four years from the date you were diagnosed. Call a lawyer as soon as possible.
What if I do not know where I was exposed to asbestos?
Your lawyer can help figure it out. They will ask you about every job you ever had and every place you ever lived. You do not need to remember everything.
What if I already have a lawyer but I am not happy?
You can switch lawyers. Talk to a new firm first. They can help you make the switch without hurting your case.
Can I file a claim for a loved one who already passed away?
Yes. You can file a wrongful death claim. The money goes to the spouse, children, or other dependents.
What is the average settlement for mesothelioma?
Most mesothelioma cases settle for between one million and two million dollars. Some settle for more. Some settle for less.
Hope for the Future
Mesothelioma is a serious cancer. There is no point pretending otherwise. But the outlook is better today than it was ten years ago. And it will be better ten years from now.
New treatments are being developed. Immunotherapy is helping some patients live longer with better quality of life. Researchers are studying new drug combinations, new surgical techniques, and new ways to detect mesothelioma earlier.
You have reason to hope.
But hope is not enough. You need action. Call a mesothelioma specialist today. Call a mesothelioma lawyer today. Get the treatment you need. Get the money you deserve. Give yourself the best possible chance to fight this disease.
You are not alone. There are doctors, lawyers, support groups, and other patients ready to help you. Reach out. Take the first step.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about mesothelioma, treatment options, and legal rights. It does not constitute medical advice or legal advice. Every case is different. Always consult with qualified medical professionals and attorneys about your specific situation. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, speak with a doctor immediately and contact a qualified mesothelioma lawyer to understand your legal rights.