Pleural Mesothelioma

What Is Pleural Mesothelioma?

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. This cancer starts in the pleura (the lining of the lungs). Over time, cancer tumors grow around the lungs and spread through the body.

While there is currently no cure for pleural mesothelioma cancer, treatments can shrink tumors, ease symptoms, and help many U.S. veterans live longer.

Key Facts About Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer

About 700 U.S. veterans develop this type of mesothelioma every year.
Symptoms include chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath.
The 5-year pleural mesothelioma survival rate is 15%, but some veterans and civilians have lived for decades with treatment.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center is the most trusted resource for U.S. veterans with mesothelioma. If you have pleural mesothelioma, we can help you pursue key U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, medical care, and compensation.

Get our Free Veterans Packet to learn more about pleural mesothelioma and explore how we can assist you.

Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Causes

The only known cause of pleural mesothelioma is asbestos. All military branches used asbestos-containing products like insulation and wiring before the early 1980s. Veterans who worked with these products could have breathed in stray asbestos fibers, leading to pleural mesothelioma later in life.

However, veterans had a higher risk if they were regularly exposed as part of their military duties, such as shipbuilding and boilermaking.

“I was a boiler tender when I went aboard my first ship. I asked them what they were made out of and they said asbestos. It didn’t kill anybody on the spot — it took years later to start catching up with us.”

– Walter Twidwell, U.S. Navy veteran with pleural mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

Malignant pleural mesothelioma symptoms typically develop 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma cancer to watch for include:

Chest pain
Coughing up blood
Lumps under the chest wall
Night sweats
Persistent cough
Pleural plaques (thickening of lung lining)
Rib pain
Shortness of breath
Shoulder pain
Unexplained weight loss
Upper back pain

Pleural effusion (buildup of fluid in the lung lining) is the first symptom in 8 out of 10 pleural mesothelioma cases, according to Pathology International.

If you or a U.S. veteran you love has any of these symptoms and was exposed to asbestos, see a doctor immediately. Getting treatment as soon as possible may help you live longer.

Veterans should also keep a watch for mesothelioma if they’ve developed other asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis.

Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by first assessing your symptoms and noting any history of asbestos exposure. From there, they will order tests to look inside your body for signs of cancer.

Imaging tests for malignant pleural mesothelioma include:

Chest X-ray
CT scan
MRI scan
PET scan
PET-CT scan

If pleural mesothelioma is suspected after these scans, a doctor can order a biopsy, where they’ll review a fluid or tissue sample to look for cancer cells. This is the only way to confirm a diagnosis.

”If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, I can help you get VA benefits or increase your disability rating to 100%. Call (877) 450-8973 to get started.

— Major Jonathan Nelson (Ret), VA-accredited attorney & Marine Corps veteran

Pleural Mesothelioma Stages

There are four stages of pleural mesothelioma, depending on how far the cancer has spread through the body. Cancer stage greatly affects your overall health and treatment options.

The stages of pleural mesothelioma cancer are:

Stage 1 pleural mesothelioma: Tumors are just in the pleura. Patients may live longer with surgery.
Stage 2 pleural mesothelioma: Tumors have spread to other parts of the lung or diaphragm but can still be treated with surgery.
Stage 3 pleural mesothelioma: The cancer reaches nearby lymph nodes and organs. If surgery is possible, the patient may live longer.
Stage 4 pleural mesothelioma: Cancer has spread through the body. Also known as metastatic pleural mesothelioma, it has the least favorable health outlook, but it’s still possible to become a survivor.

Treatments may help patients live longer at any stage. U.S. veteran Art Putt was diagnosed with advanced pleural mesothelioma in 2018 but is still alive today thanks to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. “Initially they told him he had six months to a year,” his wife Jan remembers.

Pleural Mesothelioma Cell Types

Pleural mesothelioma tumors consist of different types of cells. A patient’s mesothelioma cell type greatly impacts their health outlook, as some are easier to treat than others.

The three cell types of pleural mesothelioma cancer are:

Pleural epithelioid mesothelioma: Tumors consist of round epithelial cells that are easier to treat. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type affecting veterans and civilians.
Pleural sarcomatoid mesothelioma: Tumors are made up of spindle-shaped cells that spread easily through the body, making the cancer harder to treat. This is the least common type.
Biphasic pleural mesothelioma: Tumors contain both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. Patients have a better health outlook if more epithelioid cells are present.

Doctors can determine pleural mesothelioma cell type during a biopsy and recommend treatments based on it and other factors, like cancer stage.

Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment

Doctors rely on several treatments to help veterans with pleural mesothelioma live longer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.

Learn about top pleural mesothelioma treatment options below.

Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Surgery

Pleural mesothelioma surgery is one of the most important treatments for this cancer. Doctors can remove all visible cancer tumors with mesothelioma surgery, often allowing patients to live longer.

There are two main pleural mesothelioma surgeries:

Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): This removes the lung closest to the cancer, all cancer tumors from the chest cavity, and the pleura. Patients live for over 26 months when an EPP is used with other treatments.
Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D):This removes cancer tumors and the pleura without removing a patient’s lung, so recovery is easier compared to an EPP. The average life expectancy is 34 months, according to The Journal of Thoracic Disease.

Some pleural mesothelioma patients may become long-term survivors with surgery. For instance, U.S. Army veteran Phillip lived for 10 years after his 2015 pleural mesothelioma diagnosis thanks to a P/D and radiation. “It’s a great feeling to know that, hey, I'm still kicking around,” he said.

Join our next Virtual Support Group to hear stories from other people dealing with mesothelioma.

Other Treatments for Pleural Mesothelioma

Besides surgery, oncologists (cancer doctors) can use treatments for malignant pleural mesothelioma to improve survival.

Additional pleural mesothelioma treatment options include:

Chemotherapy for pleural mesothelioma: Chemotherapy is the most effective pleural mesothelioma treatment if surgery isn’t an option. Cancer-killing drugs like pemetrexed and cisplatin shrink tumors. Patients live for 14 months on average with chemotherapy alone, according to the National Cancer Database (NCDB).
Pleural mesothelioma radiation: Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells. Pleural mesothelioma patients typically live for around 1 year with radiation, as noted by the NCDB.
Pleural mesothelioma immunotherapy: Medications boost the immune system response to cancer. The average survival time is over 15 months. Commonly used mesothelioma immunotherapy drugs are nivolumab (Opdivo®), ipilimumab (Yervoy®), and pembrolizumab (Keytruda®).
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields): Pads charged with electricity are used to treat pleural mesothelioma. The electricity doesn’t hurt the patient but slows the cancer’s ability to spread. When used with chemotherapy, patients can live for over 18 months.
Emerging treatments: Gene therapy (editing genes to kill cancer), photodynamic therapy (using light to destroy tumors), and targeted therapy (drugs that don't harm normal tissue) are just three of many newer treatments being studied in clinical trials for pleural mesothelioma.
Palliative care: This helps to ease a mesothelioma patient’s symptoms and pain. Common options include minor surgeries, medications, and options to drain pleural effusions.

These treatments, along with surgery, are often used together in what are known as multimodal plans to destroy as much of the cancer as possible.

The ‌best treatments will depend on the factors in each pleural mesothelioma patient’s case, such as their stage, cell type, and overall health.

Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis

A mesothelioma prognosis describes how long a cancer patient can expect to live. Pleural mesothelioma has a less than favorable prognosis, but with treatment, some patients could live a long time.

“A misconception that I see routinely is that patients assume that they can't survive and can't live with the disease, even though many are living relatively normal lives.”

– Dr. Taylor Ripley, pleural mesothelioma specialist

Mesothelioma prognosis is measured using two figures: life expectancy and survival rate. Learn about each below.

Pleural Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Pleural mesothelioma cancer has a life expectancy ranging from 8-22 months, according to Molecular Oncology. However, mesothelioma life expectancy could improve with treatments.

U.S. Army veteran Ernie Conry lived for over 7 years after his pleural mesothelioma diagnosis thanks to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. “Don’t let the cancer bog you down,” he said. “If you’re still moving, keep moving.”

Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rates

Survival rates measure the percentage of patients still living after a set period of time. The 5-year malignant pleural mesothelioma survival rate is 12%, as noted by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Year(s)	Survival Rate
1 Year	73%
3 Years	23%
5 Years	15%
10 Years	5%

Other veterans and civilians have surpassed the average survival rate figures, becoming long-term mesothelioma survivors and living for many years.

Top Pleural Mesothelioma Doctors for Veterans

Mesothelioma doctors specifically treat this rare cancer, helping patients live longer and with less pain. Many pleural mesothelioma doctors at top ‌cancer centers have partnered with the VA to treat veterans.

Top pleural mesothelioma doctors include:

Dr. Raphael Bueno
- Boston, MA
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Leader of International Mesothelioma Program (IMP)

Dr. Robert Cameron
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery
- West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

Dr. Lorraine Cornwell
- Houston, TX
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- Section Head of Thoracic Surgery

Dr. Taylor Ripley
- Houston, TX
- Mesothelioma Treatment Center Director
- Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Daniel C. Wiener
- Boston, MA
- VA Boston Healthcare System
- Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery

We can put you in touch with top VA pleural mesothelioma doctors right now. Call (877) 450-8973 to get started.

VA Benefits and Compensation for Pleural Mesothelioma

U.S. veterans with pleural mesothelioma may be entitled to a wide range of benefits offered by the VA to make living with this cancer easier.

Veterans and civilians may also qualify to pursue financial compensation to help cover the expenses associated with mesothelioma.

Financial options for pleural mesothelioma include:

VA benefits: The VA typically awards $4,158.17 a month and free or low-cost health care to veterans with mesothelioma. Major Jonathan Nelson can help you file for mesothelioma VA benefits now. He can also work to increase your VA disability rating to 100%.
Mesothelioma lawsuits: Veterans may qualify for lawsuit compensation often worth $1 million or more. The U.S. military and government are never sued, and a lawsuit doesn’t impact your ability to get VA benefits.
Asbestos trust funds: These trusts contain $30 billion for those with pleural mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

If you decide to file trust fund claims or lawsuits, you can still get mesothelioma VA benefits for mesothelioma too. Major Nelson and our team will fight for the benefits and payouts you deserve.

“VA benefits and compensation are things you are entitled to, and deserve, if you’re facing mesothelioma. I’m happy to review your options with you, so reach out to me today.

— Retired Major Jonathan Nelson, VA-Accredited Attorney

Help for U.S. Veterans With Pleural Mesothelioma

Every year, hundreds of U.S. veterans develop pleural mesothelioma from serving our country. A diagnosis can be devastating to families, but Major Nelson and the Mesothelioma Veterans Center are ready to help.

We can assist you with:

Filing for VA benefits or increase existing benefits to 100%
Getting health care from top mesothelioma doctors near you
Seeking financial compensation often worth $1 million or more
Securing the support you deserve to fight this cancer

Get a Free Veterans Packet or call (877) 450-8973 to explore all of the ways we can help you or a family member who served.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma FAQs

What is a pleural mesothelioma?

Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs, which is known as the pleura, 10-50 years or more after asbestos exposure.

Around 700 U.S. veterans are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma each year after handling asbestos-containing components decades earlier during their service.

What is the life expectancy of a person with pleural mesothelioma?

The average mesothelioma life expectancy is 8-22 months, as noted by Molecular Oncology. However, some veterans and civilians have lived much longer thanks to aggressive treatments.

For example, U.S. veteran Art Putt has survived for over 7 years with advanced mesothelioma despite being given a year or less to live initially.

Get a Free Veterans Packet to explore treatments and resources that can help you after a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis.

What are the final stages of pleural mesothelioma?

Stage 4 is considered the end stage of pleural mesothelioma. By this stage, the cancer has spread through the body, making it very hard to treat.

However, doctors can recommend treatment plans to help patients live longer. For example, John Stahl is still living today after his stage 4 diagnosis in 2019 thanks to chemotherapy.

What causes pleural mesothelioma?

The only known cause of pleural mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Anyone who was exposed to asbestos could develop pleural mesothelioma later in life.

Some U.S. veterans had a military occupational specialty that required them to work with asbestos-based products daily. These veterans have a greater risk of mesothelioma.

Call (877) 450-8973 if you or a veteran you love has mesothelioma. We can help you pursue VA benefits, treatments, and compensation.

Is pleural mesothelioma curable?

No, there’s no known cure for pleural mesothelioma at this time. In some cases, though, treatments can help patients live for long periods of time in remission, where cancer symptoms lessen or disappear.

While long-term remission is rare, pleural mesothelioma doctors can recommend treatments to remove or destroy cancer tumors, which can help improve your survival time.

How can veterans access VA benefits for pleural mesothelioma?

Veterans with pleural mesothelioma can apply for VA benefits right now by working with Major Jonathan Nelson. Major Nelson is a VA-accredited attorney ready to help veterans file for or increase their benefits to 100% after a diagnosis.

Essential VA benefits for veterans with mesothelioma include disability compensation typically worth $4,158.17 a month and free or inexpensive medical care from expert doctors.

Get assistance with your mesothelioma VA benefits from Major Nelson now.

Disclaimer

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Robert B. Cameron. The contact information above is listed for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Cameron directly. Visit the UCLA Health website to learn more about Dr. Robert Cameron.