Malignant pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs, called the pleura. The only known cause is breathing in asbestos fibers. It is the most common type of mesothelioma, making up around 70% of all cases. Symptoms include chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath. We can help veterans with pleural mesothelioma pursue military benefits, treatment, and compensation.
What Is Pleural Mesothelioma?
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The cancer starts in the pleura (the lining of the lungs). Over time, cancer tumors encase the lungs and spread through the body.
There is currently no cure for pleural mesothelioma cancer, but treatments can shrink tumors, ease symptoms, and help U.S. veterans and civilians live longer.
Key Facts About Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
- This type accounts for roughly 70% of mesothelioma cases, according to a 2024 Molecular Oncology report.
- The first symptom most patients experience is pleural effusion (fluid buildup in the lung lining).
- Approximately 12% of pleural mesothelioma patients are still living 5 years after a diagnosis.
- About 2,100 people develop pleural mesothelioma per year.
We can help eligible U.S. veterans with pleural mesothelioma access 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 Causes
The only known cause of pleural mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a strong, fiber-like substance used by all military branches and civilian industries until the early 1980s.
Veterans who worked with asbestos products may have released fibers into the air. If the fibers were breathed in, they could get trapped in the body, causing pleural mesothelioma later in life.
Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the risks for decades, putting veterans and civilians in danger of pleural mesothelioma to make a profit.
“I was a boiler tender when I went aboard my first ship. I asked them what the material was made out of and they told me it was asbestos. It didn’t kill anybody on the spot, that’s for sure. It took years later. That’s when it started 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.
Mesothelioma pleural effusion (buildup of fluid in the lung lining caused by cancer) is the first symptom in 80% of cases, according to a 2022 Pathology International report.
Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Lumps under the chest wall
- Night sweats
- Persistent cough
- Rib pain
- Shortness of breath
- Shoulder pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Upper back pain
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.
Asbestos Diseases Related to Pleural Mesothelioma
Veterans at risk of pleural mesothelioma should also be aware of other asbestos-related diseases. These health issues share symptoms with pleural mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath.
Notable asbestos-related pleural diseases include:
- Asbestosis: A condition in which the lungs become stiff over time due to scarring from asbestos fibers
- Pleural plaques: Buildup of a protein called collagen in the lung lining
- Pleural thickening: Hardening of the lung lining due to irritation from asbestos
Developing one of these illnesses could also mean the veteran is at risk of cancer due to asbestos exposure.
It’s possible to have any of these diseases as well as pleural mesothelioma at the same time.
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, your doctor can order a biopsy. Doctors take a tissue or fluid sample of a possibly cancerous tumor and look at it under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present. This is the only way to confirm a diagnosis.
Pleural Mesothelioma Stages
There are four stages of pleural mesothelioma, depending on how far the cancer has spread through the body. Which stage you have can greatly impact your treatment options and how long you may live.
Doctors assess pleural mesothelioma staging using the Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) system when making a diagnosis.
The stages of mesothelioma 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 worst health outlook, but it’s still possible to become a survivor.
Treatments may help patients live longer at any stage. John Stahl was diagnosed with stage 4 pleural mesothelioma in 2019 but is still living thanks to chemotherapy. “I’m pretty well back to normal,” he says.
Call (877) 450-8973 to speak with our Patient Advocates and find treatments that may help you or a veteran you love live longer with pleural mesothelioma.
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 are:
- Pleural epithelioid mesothelioma: Tumors consist of round epithelial cells that are easier to treat.
- Pleural sarcomatoid mesothelioma: Tumors are made up of spindle-shaped cells that spread easily through the body, making the cancer harder to treat.
- 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 your pleural mesothelioma cell type during a biopsy and recommend treatments based on their findings.
Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment
Doctors rely on several treatments to help pleural mesothelioma patients live longer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. These treatments are often used together in multimodal plans to destroy as much of the cancer as possible.
Learn about top malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment options below.
Pleural Mesothelioma 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, the pleura, and other diseased tissue from the chest cavity. A 2022 study found that when an EPP, chemotherapy, and radiation were used together, pleural mesothelioma patients lived for 26.8 months on average.
- Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): This removes cancer tumors and the pleura without removing a patient’s lung. This allows patients to recover faster and with fewer side effects compared to an EPP. The average life expectancy with this treatment is 34 months, according to a 2021 Journal of Thoracic Disease report.
Some pleural mesothelioma patients may even become long-term survivors depending on how their cancer responds to surgery.
Get our Free Veterans Packet to explore your pleural mesothelioma treatment options and to see how we can help you access care.
Chemotherapy for Pleural Mesothelioma
Chemotherapy is the most effective pleural mesothelioma treatment if surgery isn’t an option. Chemotherapy uses cancer-killing drugs like pemetrexed and cisplatin to shrink tumors.
A 2022 review of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) found that pleural mesothelioma patients live for 14 months on average with chemotherapy alone. Patients may live longer if chemotherapy is combined with other treatments.
Art Putt, a veteran with pleural mesothelioma, received chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and holistic treatment after his 2018 diagnosis. He’s still living today. “The doctor said he would have possibly 6 months to a year,” his wife Jan recalls, “and that was over 5 years ago.”
Pleural Mesothelioma Radiation
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells. The 2022 NCDB data shows that pleural mesothelioma patients live for 12.2 months on average with this treatment.
Radiation therapy is also frequently used to supplement surgery and chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy for Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma immunotherapy uses medications to boost the body’s immune response to cancer. Patients live for an average of 15.2 months with this treatment, as noted in the 2022 NCDB data.
As of 2024, three immunotherapy drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat pleural mesothelioma: nivolumab (Opdivo®), ipilimumab (Yervoy®), and pembrolizumab (Keytruda®).
TTFields
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) use pads charged with electricity to treat pleural mesothelioma. The electricity doesn’t hurt the patient but slows the cancer’s ability to spread.
TTFields are approved by the FDA to treat pleural mesothelioma along with chemotherapy.
Emerging Pleural Mesothelioma Treatments
Doctors are studying new treatments for pleural mesothelioma in clinical trials with the hopes of helping more patients live longer.
Just a few of these emerging treatments include:
- Gene therapy Modifying genes so the body can more easily kill cancer
- Photodynamic therapy Killing pleural mesothelioma cells using light-sensitive drugs
- Targeted therapy Medications that attack mesothelioma without harming healthy cells
Talk to your mesothelioma doctor to learn if you’re able to join a pleural mesothelioma clinical trial.
Pleural Mesothelioma Palliative Care
Palliative care helps to ease a mesothelioma patient’s symptoms and pain. Palliative care is often the main type of treatment for end-stage pleural mesothelioma, but it can also help early-stage patients feel better.
Palliative mesothelioma treatment options include:
- Minor surgeries
- Pain-relieving medications
- Procedures to drain pleural effusions
A pleural mesothelioma doctor can recommend palliative care options that will work best in your case.
Call (877) 450-8973 now to see which pleural mesothelioma treatments may be right for you.
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 patients assume that they can't survive and can't live actually with the disease, even though many of our patients are walking around 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 has a life expectancy ranging from 8-22 months on average, according to a 2024 Molecular Oncology report. However, mesothelioma life expectancy could improve with treatments like surgery.
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 | 12.% |
| 10 Years | 5% |
Some patients surpass the average survival rate figures, living 20 years or more and becoming long-term mesothelioma survivors.
Top Pleural Mesothelioma Doctors for Veterans
Mesothelioma doctors specifically treat this rare cancer, helping patients live longer and with less pain. Several pleural mesothelioma doctors 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
Call (877) 450-8973 for help connecting with pleural mesothelioma specialists near you.
Compensation and Benefits 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 $4,044.91 a month and free or low-cost health care to veterans with mesothelioma. Eric Hall, a fellow veteran and VA-accredited attorney, can help you file for or increase your VA benefits if you have mesothelioma.
- Mesothelioma lawsuits: Veterans may qualify for lawsuit compensation often worth $1 million or more by working with our legal partners. 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. Our partner lawyers can help you receive payouts.
“All of a sudden, one check showed up, and then another check showed up, and then another check showed up. And they are still coming in now. It’s been very satisfying, and what I know is that my wife is taken care of for the rest of her life.”
– Jimmy Johnson, pleural mesothelioma survivor
Contact our team now for help pursuing VA benefits and compensation after a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis.
Help for U.S. Veterans With Pleural Mesothelioma
Every year, proud U.S. veterans develop cancers like pleural mesothelioma from serving our country. Many cases of mesothelioma were preventable, but private companies hid the risks of asbestos from service members and the general public.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center stands ready to assist veterans with pleural mesothelioma in any way we can.
Our team can help you or a loved one:
- File for VA benefits or increase existing benefits to 100%
- Get health care from top mesothelioma doctors near you
- Seek financial compensation often worth $1 million or more
- Secure the support you deserve to fight this cancer
Call (877) 450-8973 or get a Free Veterans Packet now to explore all of the ways we can help you or a family member who served.
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma FAQs
What is the life expectancy of a person with pleural mesothelioma?
The average mesothelioma life expectancy is 8-22 months, as noted in a Molecular Oncology report from 2024.
However, some veterans and civilians have lived much longer thanks to aggressive treatments.
Factors like your cancer stage, cell type, and overall health all impact how long you’ll live with this cancer.
What is the end stage 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 improve a veteran’s prognosis.
Long-term survival may still be possible with end-stage pleural mesothelioma. 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 if eligible.
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.
What’s the difference between pleural vs. peritoneal mesothelioma?
Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma form in different parts of the body, require unique treatments, and have contrasting prognoses.
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs (pleura), and with major surgeries, patients have a survival time of 3 years or less. Most veterans will develop this type.
Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal lining (peritoneum). Doctors can use a treatment called cytoreduction with HIPEC that helps patients live for over 4 years on average.
Get a Free Veterans Packet to access key resources for either type.
Does mesothelioma cause pleural effusion?
Yes, mesothelioma can cause a pleural effusion. The lung lining normally produces a small amount of fluid to help the lungs expand and contract easily.
However, when mesothelioma tumors form in the lung lining, the body begins to overreact and too much fluid is produced. These pleural effusions can cause difficulty breathing and pain. Fortunately, doctors can drain the effusions to give patients relief.
How can veterans access VA benefits for pleural mesothelioma?
Veterans with pleural mesothelioma can apply for VA benefits right now.
Our team — including fellow veterans, VA-accredited attorneys, and caring Patient Advocates — can help these veterans build a case and file a VA benefits claim.
We can also help veterans increase their VA benefits to 100% after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
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.
