Mesothelioma

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin layer of tissue that covers organs in the chest or belly. It most often starts in the lining around the lungs. It is rare but serious.

It can also form in the lining of the belly or in the sac around the heart. In rare cases it forms in the testicles.

It is often found late, when it is harder to treat.

What are the signs of mesothelioma, and when should I see a doctor?

Common signs are shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage. Some people have a cough, belly pain or swelling, or weight loss they cannot explain. Fluid can also build up in the chest or belly.

The National Cancer Institute says to check with your doctor if you have any of these signs. They can have other causes too.

Cancer from asbestos usually shows up many years after the contact. Tell your doctor about any past work, home or family contact with asbestos.

How do doctors diagnose mesothelioma?

After a health history and exam, doctors may order a chest x-ray or CT scan. To be sure, they take a small piece of tissue or some fluid from the chest or belly. A pathologist checks it under a microscope for cancer.

It can be hard to tell mesothelioma in the chest from lung cancer. Special lab tests on the tissue help tell one kind of cancer from another.

Tissue may be taken with a thin needle, or through a small cut using a thin tube with a light and a lens.

Which records show a mesothelioma diagnosis?

The pathology report on the tissue or fluid gives the final diagnosis. Ask for it, along with your x-ray and CT reports. A U.S. health agency says a full history is needed to check for disease from asbestos.

A pathologist writes the pathology report after studying the sample. The National Cancer Institute says this report gives the definitive cancer diagnosis, and it usually reaches your doctor within 10 days.

You can ask each hospital and clinic for copies, including your x-ray and CT images. A provider cannot turn you down just because you owe a bill.

What does research say about asbestos, talc and mesothelioma?

Asbestos is a known cause of mesothelioma. The National Cancer Institute says most cases are thought to come from asbestos. Lawsuits claim some talc powders held asbestos. FDA’s talc page does not say talc itself causes it.

Asbestos is the name for six natural minerals made of fibers. It has been used in building and textile work. Cancer from asbestos can take many years after contact to form.

A U.S. health agency says breathing asbestos in can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. The National Cancer Institute adds that a world cancer agency also links it to cancers of the larynx and ovary. Family members of workers with heavy contact may also face a higher risk.

FDA says talc and asbestos can be found close together in the earth, so talc can be tainted with asbestos. FDA has tested talc makeup and powders for asbestos. The FDA page we read does not say that talc itself causes mesothelioma.

Lawsuits claim that some talc powders held asbestos and caused mesothelioma. Juries have ruled for the person in some of these trials and for the company in others. We found no federal court ruling on whether asbestos in talc causes mesothelioma, and we did not search state court rulings.

Who brings mesothelioma claims in the asbestos and talc cases?

People with mesothelioma may file asbestos claims in court. Some may also file with trust funds. Some firms set up these funds in bankruptcy, partly due to asbestos. Talc claims for this cancer say asbestos in talc powder caused it.

In 1991, a panel of federal judges sent a large group of asbestos injury cases to a federal court in Pennsylvania. A 2011 government report said trust funds treat mesothelioma as the most serious disease they pay for.

Johnson & Johnson says talc mesothelioma trials are being set in state courts in 2026 and beyond. This page cannot tell you if you could bring a claim, or which route might fit your facts.

The talc case page’s latest news is about a proposed deal for ovarian cancer claims, not mesothelioma. Johnson & Johnson keeps its mesothelioma claims separate from its ovarian claims.

Each case page below gives the latest news on that case.

Do any government programs list mesothelioma?

The World Trade Center Health Program lists mesothelioma as a covered condition. The program must first decide that a member’s cancer is tied to 9/11 exposure.

This is a health program with its own rules. It covers certified conditions that are treated through its own providers. It is separate from any lawsuit or trust fund claim, and being on its list does not by itself mean a person qualifies. The program’s official page lists its covered conditions.

Can a family member get records for someone with mesothelioma?

Yes, when the law gives them that power. If the person named someone in a health care power of attorney, that person can usually get the records tied to that role. State law decides who has this power.

After a death, the executor or administrator of the estate can get the records the estate needs. Hospitals may share limited facts with a relative who was involved in the person’s care. For a child, a parent usually acts for them.

General facts about claims after a death are on the wrongful death case page.