About pleural mesothelioma

Learn about pleural mesothelioma, a cancer affecting the protective membrane covering the lungs.

Learn more about:

• What is mesothelioma?
• What is pleural mesothelioma?
• How pleural mesothelioma affects the pleura
• What causes mesothelioma?
• How common is mesothelioma?
• What can I expect after diagnosis?
• Can I seek compensation?

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that starts from mesothelial cells. These cells line the surface of most of the internal organs and body cavities, creating a protective membrane called the mesothelium.

Some mesotheliomas form a mass (tumour), while others grow along the mesothelium and form a thick covering. In later stages, mesothelioma may spread (metastasise) to other parts of the body.

What is pleural mesothelioma?

The mesothelium (protective membrane) that covers each lung is called the pleura. Mesothelioma that develops in the pleura is called pleural mesothelioma, and accounts for about 92% of mesothelioma cases.

Pleural mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer – it is diagnosed and treated differently.

The pleura

There are 2 layers of tissue in the pleura. The inner layer (the visceral pleura) covers the lung surface, and the outer layer (the parietal pleura) lines the chest wall and diaphragm. Mesothelioma causes these 2 layers of the pleura to thicken. They can then press on the lung, stopping it expanding when you breathe in (inhale).

Between the 2 layers of the pleura is the pleural cavity (also called the pleural space), which normally contains a thin film of fluid. This fluid allows the 2 layers of pleura to slide over each other – so the lungs move smoothly against the chest wall when you breathe. When too much fluid collects in the pleural cavity, it is called pleural effusion.

Other types of mesothelioma

Learn more about rare and less common cancers.

How pleural mesothelioma affects the pleura (the membrane that covers the lungs)

Pleural mesothelioma affects the pleura – the membrane that covers the lungs. The lungs are the main organs used for breathing. They are part of the respiratory system, along with the nose, mouth, windpipe (trachea), large airways (bronchi) and smaller airways (bronchioles). The lungs rest on the diaphragm – a wide, thin muscle that helps you to breathe.

The respiratory system

What causes mesothelioma?

Exposure to asbestos fibres or asbestos dust is the cause of almost all (9 out of 10) cases of mesothelioma.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to high temperatures and humidity. Asbestos was used in many building products in Australia from the 1940s until 1987.

Asbestos regulations in Australia

Since 2003, Australia has banned asbestos being sold, reused and/or imported, but it is still found in older buildings, so special care needs to be taken when renovating. It has also been found in some products from overseas.

Occupations at risk of asbestos exposure

People who may have been exposed to asbestos at work include:

• builders
• plumbers
• gasfitters and electricians
• metal-fitters, turners and toolmakers
• boilermakers and welders
• steelworkers
• asbestos miners
• asbestos cement manufacturing workers
• insulators
• automotive industry workers
• mechanics
• transport workers (especially waterside workers)
• telecommunications technicians
• marine engineers, shipwrights/boatbuilders
• textile workers.

People cleaning work clothes with asbestos fibres on them, some people who lived in houses containing asbestos, or people spending time in areas where asbestos has been disturbed during renovations or maintenance, can also develop mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma and the latency period

It can take many years for mesothelioma to develop after a person is exposed to asbestos. It is often about 50 years after exposure, but may be 10–60 years. This is called the latency period or interval.

How common is mesothelioma?

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world, with about 800 Australians diagnosed each year.

Men make up the majority of cases, with less than a quarter of people diagnosed with mesothelioma being women. This is possibly because asbestos exposure is more common in jobs that were traditionally done by men, such as mining and construction.

Pleural mesothelioma makes up about 92% of cases; peritoneal mesothelioma makes up less than 5% of cases; and other types are even more rare.

Mesothelioma is more commonly diagnosed in people aged over 65, but can occur in younger people.

What can I expect?

The plan for what happens if you have mesothelioma can vary from person to person, but is usually as follows:

• Diagnosis and staging – You will have various tests to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma and work out how far it has progressed. The results will help you and your health professionals make decisions about treatment.
• Treatment – Depending on how advanced the mesothelioma is and other factors, treatment may achieve a longer period of disease control and improve quality of life.
• Managing symptoms – For many people, the main goal of treatment will be to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Depending on how mesothelioma affects your health, you may have periods of relatively good health when symptoms are under control or less active. You may also have periods when symptoms need to be relieved with more intensive treatment.

Can I seek compensation?

People who develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure may be able to make a claim for compensation. It’s helpful to make notes and talk to family and friends about when and where you may have been exposed to asbestos.

It is important to get advice from an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis, because a case for compensation must be started within your lifetime. Mesothelioma or asbestos support groups may be able to help you with more information about seeking compensation.

See Making a Claim to learn more about seeking compensation.

→ READ MORE: Pleural mesothelioma symptoms