Q: What is mesothelioma?
A. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that attacks the thin layer of cells surrounding the lungs, heart, and abdominal region.

Q. What happens when you develop mesothelioma?
A. Tumors form in the body, which may not become apparent for decades. These tumors cause a barrage of symptoms that may be confused for other, less-serious conditions.

Q. What causes this condition?
A. Mesothelioma is strongly associated with asbestos exposure. In fact, more than 80 percent of individuals suffering from mesothelioma have worked with asbestos products for extended periods of time.

Q. What are the symptoms?
A. Patients with pleural mesothelioma experience shortness of breath, hoarseness, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, anemia, fever, and muscle weakness. In its advanced stages, pleural mesothelioma causes fluid to build up in the lungs.
For peritoneal mesothelioma, the symptoms include fever, difficulty swallowing, upper abdominal pain, and trouble with blood clotting. Fluid buildup in the abdomen, anorexia, and hypoglycemia are also common. Some patients experience abdominal swelling, bowel obstruction, diarrhea, and constipation.
Pericardial mesothelioma leads to excessive sweating, coughs and colds, severe chest pain, weakness, and night sweats.

Q. What are the stages of this disease?
A. Mesothelioma has four stages:
Stage I: The stage with the best survival rate, Stage I pertains to when tumors are just beginning to form. At this point, removing the tumor entirely possible, which may give patients a chance at full recovery.
Stage II: In Stage II, the tumor has expanded on a single site.
Stage III: Here, multiple tumors are clustered in a single location.
Stage IV: At this point, the tumors have spread to distant sites in the body. These tumors are advanced and are extremely difficult to treat.