What part of the lungs does mesothelioma affect?

Malignant pleural mesothelioma affects the tissue surrounding the lungs, known as the pleura. This is the most common form of this condition. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma affects the tissues of the abdomen. Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types depending on the part of the mesothelium affected.

Mesothelioma most commonly affects the tissue surrounding the lungs (pleura). This type is called pleural mesothelioma. Other, more rare types of mesothelioma affect tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), around the heart, and around the testicles. Mesothelioma, unlike other types of cancer, grows mainly along the surface of the lung and other surfaces of the chest.

This causes pain from the nerve attack in this area. It also causes difficulty breathing because of pressure on the lungs. Tumor nodules and fluid accumulate along the space between the lung and chest wall. Pleural mesothelioma is cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs.

It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and fluid in the lungs. Malignant pleural mesothelioma accounts for 75% of mesothelioma cases. Mesothelioma can cause fluid buildup in the heart, lungs, and abdomen; pain in the chest, stomach, and back; and flu-like symptoms.

It can also cause weight loss and fatigue. Although mesothelioma is a difficult disease to control, knowing how it will affect your body can help you better prepare for the path ahead. Calling this number connects you to a patient advocate at The Mesothelioma Center, the nation's most trusted mesothelioma resource. Mesothelioma is often an aggressive form of cancer with a poor prognosis, and patients with pleural mesothelioma have a median survival of only about 12-14 months with current therapies.

The International Mesothelioma Interest Group created the TNM staging system, the most widely used staging system for pleural mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the care, research and education of mesothelioma. You may have mesothelioma without symptoms and you may have different symptoms depending on the type of mesothelioma you have.