If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, you are among the thousands of people living with the disease. Mesothelioma affects people living with the disease and their loved ones in a variety of ways. This page takes a closer look at the physical, emotional and social impacts of the disease.

The incidence of mesothelioma, a fatal cancer usually associated with asbestos exposure, is increasing worldwide. It will increase for some years to come, particularly in developing countries where asbestos use is largely unregulated.

Symptoms. The physical symptoms of the disease include pain, breathlessness, fatigue, coughing, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite and sweating. Most patients experience pain and breathlessness. That may limit their ability to function and interact socially. Coughing, appetite loss, sleep disturbance and sweating also are significant issues. Many patients have multiple physical symptoms.

Disease progress and treatment. Physicians observe a huge variability in the course of the disease, from a slowly progressive disease to a more rapidly advancing, aggressive illness. Because the symptoms of mesothelioma are common to many illnesses and mesothelioma is relatively rare, the disease often isn’t diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage.

Mesothelioma remains largely resistant to treatment, despite advances in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical approaches, according to an article in the European Journal of Cancer Care, which summarized 13 recent studies. The median survival rates vary from six to 18 months, according to the American Thoracic Society and the British Thoracic Society. A small number of patients may live three years or more.

As the disease progresses, medical intervention such as the drainage of pleural fluid, chemotherapy, surgery and admission to a hospital or hospice is often a necessity to control the symptoms, even though such interventions can cause distress to patients.