Mesothelioma FAQs

Question: Are all types of mesothelioma malignant?

Answer: Not all types of mesothelioma are malignant. Like many other cancers, there are some cases that prove to be benign. Benign mesothelioma can be treated with surgery. A tumor of this type is a solid mass and is often successfully excised through surgery. Malignant mesothelioma is usually fatal. Some treatments can prolong the life expectancy of the patient and successfully relieve some of the painful symptoms.

Question: What are the types of malignant mesothelioma?

Answer: There are three types of malignant mesothelioma.

1. Pleural mesothelioma attacks the lining and the cavity of the lungs. Symptoms, as the disease advances, include: chest pain as the lungs fill with fluid along with shortness of breath, a tightening sensation in the chest, persist coughing, rasping, difficulty in swallowing, coughing of blood, fever and weight loss.

2. Peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the areas in the stomach and abdomen of a person. Symptoms include: stomach pains and swelling in the abdomen, pain as severe feeling as a ruptured appendix. As the disease advances, comes intense pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, anemia, abnormal clots in the blood, weight loss, constipation, fever and vomiting.

3. Pericardial mesothelioma attacks the lining to the heart and surrounding area. This is the rarest of the types. Symptoms includes sever chest pains, palpitations, labored breathing and coughing.

Question: Who is at risk for a malignant mesothelioma?

Answer: Asbestos workers and anyone else who has had prolonged or continuous exposure to asbestos.