Mesothelioma
- Science Holic
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Author: Elaine Guo
Editors: Fiona Cheng, Hwi-On Lee, Serena Tsao
Artist: Stanley Zhao
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the mesothelium, a tissue that surrounds and protects many internal organs. There are many different types of mesothelioma, including pleural, pericardial, and testicular. Specifically, pleural mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most commonly appears in the lining of your lungs, accounting for approximately 85% of cases. Still, it can also start in the lining around your heart, abdomen, or testicles. Often, it creates multiple tumors that sometimes fuse into a sheet over the affected organ, making it difficult to treat.
The most common cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used in many industries, like construction, shipbuilding, and the automotive industry. Because it can damage your tissues if inhaled or swallowed, risk factors like working in construction, mining, military service, shipbuilding, and auto repair increase your chances of developing mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos. Additionally, this cancer can also be caused by radiation exposure, erionite exposure, minerals used in road construction, genetics, and gender. Men are 4 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than women due to higher rates of occupational asbestos exposure. The main complication of mesothelioma is that it can metastasize to other parts of the body. It can also cause fluid to build up in your lungs, heart, or abdomen. You can experience different symptoms, usually depending on where the cancer is in your body. Some symptoms include fever, fatigue, weight loss, respiratory problems, chest or abdominal pain, etc. These symptoms vary from person to person and depend on the type and stage of cancer.
Doctors have many ways to test a patient for mesothelioma in order to diagnose them. They can use blood tests, CT scans, and biopsies. Patients who get diagnosed for this cancer receive treatment immediately; however, this aggressive cancer is rarely caught in the early stages when it is most treatable. Someone with pleural mesothelioma only has an average life expectancy of 12-21 months with treatment, and only about 12% diagnosed make it to 5 years. The life expectancy of peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdominal lining, is up to 31 months with treatment. The life expectancy of pericardial mesothelioma is approximately 6 months, but can increase to 13 months with chemotherapy.
Due to the low life expectancy, treatments are used to increase the survival rate and time. These treatments can include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, which trains your immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells, radiation, etc. In other cases, doctors combine treatment options to improve survival rates and quality of life. Though there is no cure, ongoing research provides hope for effective treatments in the future.
Citations:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, September 10). Incidence of malignant
mesothelioma. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/united-states-
Golden, D. (2025a). Learn mesothelioma facts and Statistics | Mesothelioma Guide.
What is mesothelioma?. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, September 26).
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