Mesothelioma claims thousands of lives every year

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects cells in the protective tissues that line the body’s internal organs, especially in the chest or abdomen. It can take years, sometimes decades, for mesothelioma to develop, and many cases of the disease can be linked back to asbestos exposure. There is no cure for mesothelioma, but victims of the disease and their family members may be able to find relief in the form of a lawsuit or settlements.

The Schmidt National Law Group can file on your behave, you don’t even have to appear in court. Contact us today at 1-800-631-5656, or use the 100% Secure form on this page. 

3 Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma affects the cells in the lining that surrounds most of the body’s internal organs. This lining is called the mesothelium and it protects organs when they rub against each other. When cells in this lining become cancerous, they form tumors called malignant mesothelioma. There is no cure for malignant mesothelioma. 

There are different types of malignant mesothelioma, depending on where the cancer starts. There are four main areas of the body where mesothelioma can start:

• Pleural mesothelioma – the most common type of mesothelioma that starts in the chest
• Peritoneal mesothelioma – this type begins in the abdomen and is the second most common form of the disease
• Pericardial mesothelioma – a rare form of the disease that begins in the covering around the heart
• Mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis – a very rare form of the disease that begins in the covering layer of the testicles

Mesothelioma Diagnosis & Treatment

Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed when a person goes to see a doctor because of symptoms. People who were exposed to asbestos should know the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma so they can tell their doctors and get tested early. Testing typically involves imaging tests, including a chest x-ray, CT scan, PET scan, or MRI.

Signs and Symptoms

Many symptoms of mesothelioma are mistaken for more common conditions. While early signs of mesothelioma are more likely caused by other conditions, it is important for people who have been exposed to asbestos to understand the signs and symptoms of this deadly disease so they can speak with their doctor.

The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma differ depending on where the cancer starts. The following information is provided by the National Cancer Society.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• Pain in the side of the chest or lower back
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Fever
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Weight loss (without trying)
• Trouble swallowing (feeling like food gets stuck)
• Hoarseness
• Swelling of the face and arms

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

• Abdominal (belly) pain
• Swelling or fluid in the abdomen
• Weight loss (without trying)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation

Staging

When a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the next step is to figure out if the cancer has spread and, if it has, how far. This is called staging.

The stage of cancer describes how much cancer is in the body and helps determine how serious the cancer is. Stages of mesothelioma range from 1 to 5 (I to IV). The lower the number, the less the cancer has spread.

Once doctors determine the stage of a person’s cancer, they can determine how best to treat it.

Treatment

There is no cure for mesothelioma, but doctors can help patients fight the disease using various treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Many times, more than one treatment is used to battle the disease.

• Surgery – can be used to try and remove the cancer or relieve painful symptoms. If a person is healthy overall and the cancer has not spread too far, surgery can remove the tumors. However, even if a surgeon removes all of the cancer than can be seen, there are often some cancer cells left behind which can then grow and divide and cause the cancer to come back.
• Radiation Therapy – uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. It can be used after surgery to try and kill the small areas of cancer that couldn’t be seen or removed during surgery. However, mesothelioma is often hard to treat with radiation therapy alone because the tumors do not usually grow as single, distinct tumors.
• Chemotherapy – uses anti-cancer drugs to target and kill cancer cells. Chemo drugs can help shrink cancer cells before surgery or to kill any leftover cancer cells after surgery.

Asbestos & Mesothelioma Link Risk Factors

The main risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral fiber found naturally in rock and soil. It was used often in the 20th Century in a variety of construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant due to its heat resistance.

Asbestos fibers are small and can be inhaled once they go airborne. These fibers injure the cells in the lining of the lung and chest wall and can eventually cause mesothelioma.

Most people who were exposed to asbestos were exposed in the workplace, but some people were exposed in homes and other buildings built before the 1970s and 80s. Millions of Americans may have already been exposed to asbestos, but those most at risk include miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers and installers, railroad and automotive workers, ship builders, plumbers, and construction workers, among others.

Because mesothelioma can take many years to develop, many people are diagnosed decades after they were exposed to asbestos. According to the American Cancer Society, the time between first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma is between 20 to 50 years.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits – $30 Billion Asbestos Trust Fund

Thousands of Americans who were exposed to asbestos and later diagnosed with mesothelioma have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos products. Many of these manufacturers filed bankruptcy and paid millions of dollars into an Asbestos Trust Fund set up to help those affected by the disease and their families.

About $30 billion has been set aside in the Asbestos Trust Fund to provide relief for people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The sooner a person files the faster they will be paid, as claims are paid in the order they are received. The amount paid is based on the severity of the person’s disease.

Filing with the Asbestos Trust Fund is the easiest and quickest way to receive compensation. Contact the lawyers and attorneys at Schmidt National Law Group to get started today.

Call 1-800-631-5656 to speak with one of the experienced attorneys at Schmidt National Law Group today. We can help you determine if you qualify for a mesothelioma lawsuit and help you file with the Asbestos Trust Fund so you can receive the compensation you deserve.

Sources

American Cancer Society. “What Are the Risk Factors for Malignant Mesothelioma?” Updated February 17, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html

American Cancer Society. “What Is Malignant Mesothelioma?” Updated February 17, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/about/malignant-mesothelioma.html

American Cancer Society. “Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma.” Updated February 17, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html

American Cancer Society. “How is Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosed?” Updated February 17, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html

American Cancer Society. “Malignant Mesothelioma Stages.” Updated February 17, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/staging.html

American Cancer Society. “Surgery for Malignant Mesothelioma.” Updated February 17, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating/surgery.html

American Cancer Society. “Radiation Therapy for Malignant Mesothelioma.” Updated February 17, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating/radiation.html

American Cancer Society. “Chemotherapy for Malignant Mesothelioma.” Updated February 17, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating/chemotherapy.html

US Environmental Protection Agency. “Learn About Asbestos.” Updated November 6, 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/learn-about-asbestos

Page: Mesothelioma Lawsuit Claims & Settlements Updated on October 3, 2025