Getting diagnosed with mesothelioma can throw you for a loop. It disrupts your life and your plans for your future. Here’s what you can expect after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
We’ll take you through treatment options and ways to find resources and strong support. Knowing what to expect reduces fears and puts you in control as much as possible.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, called the pleura, or the tissue that surrounds the organs in your belly, called the peritoneum. Though not always the case, most individuals with the disease have been exposed to asbestos fibers in the air or drinking water.
Mesothelioma can grow quietly for years before it starts to show signs. Even when you have symptoms, they can easily be confused for signs of less serious diseases, like the common cold. Unfortunately, if mesothelioma isn’t discovered early, it is more difficult to manage. Doctors treat mesothelioma with surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. These treatments work best when the disease is found early.
Knowing the early signs of mesothelioma helps you catch it as soon as possible so that you have more treatment options and the best possible outcome.
Get the facts about mesothelioma treatment costs and where you can find financial support and options for paying the bills.
Learn about supporting someone with mesothelioma and ways you can care for a loved one who is facing this disease.
If you’re diagnosed with Stage 2 mesothelioma, your cancer has spread to nearby tissues and possibly lymph nodes. However, it’s still considered a localized cancer. You’ll likely have noticeable symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath and unexplained fatigue.
Though a complete cure is less likely in this stage, the survival rate is still high if you start treatment right away that fits your situation and the specifics of your cancer. A common treatment plan for Stage 2 mesothelioma begins with surgery, followed by chemotherapy for mesothelioma.
The best treatments for mesothelioma depend on the specifics of your situation, including the type of mesothelioma, stage of diagnosis and other underlying health issues.
The most common type of mesothelioma is a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. This type affects the lining of your lungs, called the pleura. A peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis means your cancer is the lining of your abdomen, called the peritoneum. The rarest type is a pericardial mesothelioma diagnosis, which affects the lining around your heart, called the pericardium.
The next considerations are your overall health, age and the stage of your disease. Your goals may vary from aggressively seeking a cure to lengthening and improving the quality of your life.
How is mesothelioma treated? After getting a detailed mesothelioma diagnosis, you and your care team will explore mesothelioma treatments such as:
Surgery: In an early stage of your disease, when the cancer is localized and you are relatively healthy, surgery is often recommended to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
Radiation therapy: Radiation can be very effective in early-stage mesothelioma. You might get radiation before surgery to shrink your tumor for an easier procedure or after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells. In later stages, radiation can shrink tumors, helping to relieve pain and make breathing easier.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy in early stages slows cancer growth and shrinks tumors before surgery. It may also be used after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: In late-stage mesothelioma, or if surgery is not an option, mesothelioma immunotherapy may help to recognize and kill cancer cells. Newer drugs extend survival and relieve symptoms for long-term management.
Palliative care: Palliative care describes the management of a disease to slow it down and relieve symptoms. Its goal is to lengthen your lifespan and give you good months or years, allowing you to be as comfortable as possible as the disease progresses.
Targeted therapy: New mesothelioma treatments include drugs that target cancer cells based on their genetics or specific molecules called markers. They have shown promise in combination with chemotherapy and may have fewer side effects than other treatment options.
Clinical trials: You may be able to access promising new treatments that are still in the testing stage. The “Right to Try” law may allow you to access some of the most cutting-edge options, which can give you hope when other treatments have failed.
Multimodal therapy: In the early stages of the disease, aggressive treatment and the use of more than one treatment type can give you the best chance of a cure.
It helps to know what to expect if you have mesothelioma symptoms and want to get mesothelioma testing done. No one wants to get diagnosed with mesothelioma, but the sooner you know, the better the potential outcome. Here are the various ways your doctor will assess your health and the possibility that you have this kind of cancer. If you have been exposed to asbestos, tell your doctor right away so that you both can be on the lookout for this cancer. Here is what you can expect in terms of testing and the order they will follow:
Physical examination: Your care team will look for fluid around your lungs and abdomen, listen to your breathing and gather information about your symptoms, if any.
Imaging tests: Next, you will get a mesothelioma X-ray, CT scan and MRI. These tests provide a detailed picture of your lungs, heart and abdomen. Doctors will look for anything out of the ordinary.
Blood test: Certain molecules suggest abnormal cells are in your body. Mesothelioma sometimes releases these molecules or markers into your blood.
Biopsy: If your doctor finds something suspicious, they may take a sample of the area, called a mesothelioma biopsy. Your doctor will examine the tissue under a microscope to identify any mesothelioma cancer cells.
Your life can be turned upside down after a mesothelioma diagnosis. It is important to find ways to stay strong for what is to come. That starts with getting as much help as you can. Mesothelioma self-care means setting up a support structure that helps you with a daily routine, provides ways to stay connected to your community and lets you continue to engage in activities that bring you joy. You don’t want cancer to take over your life.
A big part of getting help is seeking emotional counseling. Talk to a therapist, clergy, or join patient and caregiver support groups. You are not alone facing mesothelioma. Caregivers can find support on our page about caring for someone with mesothelioma.
Part of your emotional well-being means cutting out as much stress as possible. Beyond worrying about your health, financial concerns can add to the burden. Resources and options are available. Visit our page on mesothelioma financial costs.
Written by:
Lisa Merriam is an experienced copywriter specializing in medical content, combining technical precision with clarity to ensure articles are accessible and accurate.
Medical review by:
MaryAnn DePietro is a licensed respiratory therapist with over 18 years of clinical experience in critical care, emergency medicine, and pulmonary rehabilitation. With a strong background in patient care and medical writing, MaryAnn provides a valuable medical perspective for reviewing health-related articles.
Legal review by:
Jamie L. Pfeiffer is a retired attorney with extensive experience litigating large-scale asbestos and toxic tort cases in Illinois, Oregon, and Washington. She brings a wealth of legal expertise to reviewing articles about toxic exposure and legal accountability in mass torts.
