Malignant Types

• Pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of the cancer, affects the lungs and includes symptoms such as pain, persistent dry cough, weight loss, fever, difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath. Lumps may appear under the skin of the chest.
  
  Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the stomach and the abdomen, with associated symptoms such as pain, swelling, lumps under the skin, changes in bowel habits, weight loss and fever.
  
  Pericardial mesothelioma, the rarest form, affects the heart. Symptoms include chest pain, palpitations, persistent cough and shortness of breath.
  
  

Benign Tumors

• Benign (noncancerous) mesothelioma produces tumors in the mesothelial cells, but they do not spread to other parts of the body. In the abdominal area, symptoms of these tumors include nausea, blocked bowels and lack of appetite. Tumors near the heart and lungs cause shortness of breath and persistent coughing.
  
  

Risk Factors

• Asbestos exposure is the biggest risk factor for mesothelioma--up to 90 percent of all reported cases. Although asbestos is not as commonly used as it once was, it still can be found in insulation, roofing, patching compounds, floor tiles, door gaskets, ironing board covers and brake pads.
  
  

Diagnosis

• If you have been exposed to asbestos in your home or work environment and display any of the symptoms of mesothelioma, contact your physician. The doctor will perform a blood test and imaging tests such as x-rays and CAT scans to determine whether you have the disease.
  
  

Prognosis

• According to Your Complete Mesothelioma Resource Center, "approximately 75 percent of the patients are over the age of 65." Mesothelioma is commonly misdiagnosed as the flu because of symptoms such as nausea, fever and persistent coughing. It usually goes undetected until the late stages of the disease. Malignant forms of mesothelioma are terminal. Although rare, some patients with mesothelioma may live up to five years after being diagnosed.