Mesothelioma Overview
Learn About Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon cancerous tumor. It mainly affects the lining of the lung and chest cavity (pleura) or lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). It is due to long-term asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma - malignant; Malignant pleura mesothelioma (MPM)
Long-term exposure to asbestos is the biggest risk factor. Asbestos is a fire-resistant material. It was once commonly found in insulation, ceiling and roofing vinyls, cement, and car brakes. Even though many asbestos workers smoked, experts do not believe smoking itself is a cause of this condition.
Older veterans make up 30% of the cases of mesothelioma due to exposure in the military ship, vehicle, and plane industry.
Men are affected more often than women. The average age at diagnosis is 60 years. Most people seem to develop the condition about 30 years after being in contact with the asbestos.
Symptoms may not appear until 20 to 40 years or longer after exposure to asbestos, and may include:
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pain, especially when taking a deep breath
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Weight loss
- Fever and sweating
Malignant mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat.
There is usually no cure, unless the disease is found very early and the tumor can be completely removed with surgery. Most of the time, when the disease is diagnosed, it is too advanced for surgery. Chemotherapy or radiation may be used to reduce symptoms. Combining certain chemotherapy medicines may help decrease symptoms, but it will not cure the cancer.
Untreated, most people survive about 9 months.
Participating in a clinical trial (test of new treatments), may give the person more treatment options.
Pain relief, oxygen, and other supportive treatments may also help relieve symptoms.
MD Anderson
Anne Tsao is an Oncologist and a Hematologist in Houston, Texas. Dr. Tsao and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Mesothelioma. Her top areas of expertise are Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Thymic Epithelial Tumor, and Tissue Biopsy.
MD Anderson
David Rice is a Thoracic Surgeon in Houston, Texas. Dr. Rice and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Mesothelioma. His top areas of expertise are Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Thymectomy, and Endoscopy.
David Waller is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Waller and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Mesothelioma. His top areas of expertise are Mesothelioma, Emphysema, Lung Cancer, Endoscopy, and Mastectomy. Dr. Waller is currently accepting new patients.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.
The survival time varies greatly from several months to several years. The outlook depends on:
- The location of the mesothelioma
- The cell type of the mesothelioma
- The stage of the tumor
- The person's age and general health
- Whether surgery is an option
- The person's response to treatment
You and your family may want to start thinking about end-of-life planning, such as:
- Palliative care
- Hospice care
- Advance care directives
- Health care agents
Complications of malignant mesothelioma may include:
- Side effects of chemotherapy or radiation
- Continued spread of cancer to other organs
Make an appointment with your provider if you have symptoms of malignant mesothelioma.
Avoid exposure to asbestos.
Summary: APG-2449 is a novel, orally active, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which inhibits FAK, ALK, and ROS1 with nanomolar potencies. In preclinical studies, APG-2449 demonstrated potent antiproliferative activity in various cancer cell lines as a single agent. In combination treatment, APG-2449 enhanced anti-proliferative activities of several chemotherapeutic and targeted agents. It is indic...
Summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the study drug, OKN4395, administered alone and in combination with pembrolizumab. The overall objectives of this study are to determine the safety and tolerability (degree to which side effects of a drug can be tolerated) of OKN4395 alone and in combination with pembrolizumab, OKN4395 and metabolites (broken-down substances) of OKN4395 levels in the blo...
Published Date: June 17, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Baas P, Hassan R, Nowak AK, Rice D. Malignant mesothelioma. In: Pass HI, Ball D, Scagliotti GV, eds. IASLC Thoracic Oncology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 53.
Davies HE, Sterman D, Gary Lee YC. Pleural malignancy. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 114.
McCool FD. Diseases of the diaphragm, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 86.
National Cancer Institute website. Malignant mesothelioma treatment (adult) (PDQ) -- Health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma/hp/mesothelioma-treatment-pdq. Updated April 24, 2024. Accessed July 8, 2024.