A mesothelioma diagnosis can introduce a lot of unfamiliar words. You might see “biphasic” on a pathology report or hear your doctor recommend immunotherapy. Maybe you’ve been referred to a specialist and aren’t sure what they do. It’s hard to keep track when you’re worried about your health or caring for someone you love.
October is Health Literacy Month, a time to recognize the importance of understanding medical information. At Mesothelioma Hope, we help patients and families learn about their diagnosis and find doctors experienced in treating this rare cancer. We’ve created this glossary to explain common terms so you can follow conversations with your care team and prepare for appointments.
Mesothelioma Medical Terms
Mesothelioma develops in the thin tissue surrounding certain organs and is caused by asbestos exposure. Where the cancer starts affects which symptoms you may experience. Your doctor might also ask about jobs you held decades ago to help identify when and where you encountered asbestos.
- Asbestos: A group of minerals once widely used in insulation, building materials, and other products. Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, usually decades after someone breathes in or swallows the fibers.
- Mesothelioma: A rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure that develops in the lining of certain organs, most commonly around the lungs or inside the abdomen.
- Mesothelium: The thin layer of tissue that covers and protects many internal organs. Mesothelioma begins in its cells.
- Pericardial mesothelioma: A very rare type of cancer that develops in the lining around the heart.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma: Cancer that starts in the lining of the abdomen. It can cause belly pain, swelling, or digestive problems.
- Pleural mesothelioma: The most common type, which forms in the lining around the lungs. Common symptoms include chest pain and trouble breathing.
- Testicular mesothelioma: An extremely rare type that forms in the lining around a testicle.
Your mesothelioma type can influence which treatments doctors recommend. Finding a specialist with experience treating your specific diagnosis is especially important because this cancer is rare.
Get answers to your questions with our Free Mesothelioma Guide covering symptoms, treatment options, and financial support, delivered right to your door.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Test Results
Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses. Doctors use imaging tests to look for changes inside the body, then examine tissue samples to confirm cancer. Your pathology report contains details that help specialists recommend treatment.
- Biopsy: A procedure that collects tissue for testing. Doctors usually need a sample to confirm mesothelioma, though fluid testing can also provide useful information.
- Biphasic: A tumor containing both epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells.
- CT scan: An imaging test that uses X-rays to create detailed pictures inside your body. It helps doctors locate tumors and check for signs of cancer spread.
- Epithelioid: The most common mesothelioma cell type. People with this form generally have a better prognosis than those with sarcomatoid disease.
- Pathology report: A written summary of what a specialist found when examining tissue or cells. It can identify your mesothelioma cell type and other features of the tumor.
- Prognosis: Your doctor’s estimate of how the cancer may affect your health over time. Cell type, stage, and response to treatment all play a role.
- Sarcomatoid: A less common mesothelioma cell type that tends to grow faster and can be harder to treat.
- Staging: A system doctors use to describe how far cancer has spread. Your stage helps guide treatment decisions.
Doctors use four stages for pleural mesothelioma, ranging from cancer that’s limited to the lining around the lungs to cancer that’s spread to distant parts of the body.
What Are the Four Stages of Mesothelioma?
Doctors use four stages to describe how far diffuse pleural mesothelioma has spread. Other types of the disease may use different staging systems.
- Stage 1: Cancer is limited to the lining on one side of the chest, though some nearby tissue may be affected.
- Stage 2: Cancer has reached certain nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
- Stage 3: Cancer has spread further into nearby parts of the chest or lymph nodes.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread to distant areas of the body.
Your pathology report and imaging results help doctors determine how your mesothelioma stage affects treatment choices. These findings can also show whether you’re a candidate for surgery or other specialized care.
Mesothelioma Treatment Terms
Mesothelioma treatment varies by diagnosis. Someone with peritoneal disease might qualify for surgery with heated chemotherapy, while a patient with pleural cancer may receive immunotherapy. Doctors also consider your overall health before recommending a plan.
- Chemotherapy: Medicines that kill cancer cells or slow their growth. It’s used to treat both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
- Clinical trial: A research study testing new treatments or different ways to use existing ones. Eligible patients can access therapies being studied by researchers.
- Immunotherapy: Treatment that helps your immune system attack cancer cells. It’s an initial option for some patients with pleural mesothelioma.
- Palliative care: Care that eases symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath. It can be provided alongside cancer treatment at any stage.
- Radiation therapy: High-energy rays used to damage cancer cells or relieve symptoms. Doctors sometimes recommend it for pain caused by pleural mesothelioma.
- Recurrence: When mesothelioma returns after treatment or after a period when it could no longer be detected.
- Remission: When cancer has decreased or can no longer be found on tests. It doesn’t always mean the disease is permanently gone.
- Surgery: An operation to remove tumors or relieve symptoms. Procedures differ for pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Because mesothelioma is uncommon, it’s worth consulting a doctor who specializes in treating it. An experienced specialist can review your scans and pathology report to recommend options suited to your diagnosis.
Who’s Who on Your Mesothelioma Care Team?
Treating mesothelioma involves several medical specialties. You might see one doctor to discuss chemotherapy and another to find out whether surgery is an option. Nurses and other health care professionals help coordinate appointments and manage treatment.
- Medical oncologist: A doctor who treats mesothelioma with medications, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
- Nurse practitioner (NP): An advanced practice nurse who can examine patients, order tests, and prescribe medications within their scope of practice.
- Oncology nurse navigator: A nurse who helps patients understand treatment plans, coordinate appointments, and address questions about cancer care.
- Pathologist: A doctor who examines biopsy samples to identify mesothelioma and determine its cell type.
- Patient Advocate: Someone who helps patients understand medical information and access resources, including specialized cancer care.
- Phlebotomist: A health care worker who draws blood for tests, including those used to monitor patients during treatment.
- Registered nurse (RN): A nurse who monitors symptoms, administers treatments, and helps patients manage side effects.
- Thoracic surgeon: A doctor who performs operations in the chest, including procedures used to treat pleural mesothelioma.
Your medical oncologist may discuss scan results, while a nurse navigator arranges a visit with a surgeon. Ask your care team who handles urgent symptoms and whom to contact about appointments or testing.
Mesothelioma Legal and Financial Terms
Mesothelioma can develop decades after asbestos exposure. Shipyard workers, construction crews, military veterans, and people employed in manufacturing may have encountered asbestos without knowing its dangers.
Patients and families can pursue compensation from companies responsible for asbestos exposure. These definitions explain the legal processes you may encounter.
- Asbestos trust fund: Money set aside through certain asbestos companies’ bankruptcies to compensate people harmed by their products. Eligible patients and families can file claims for payments.
- Mesothelioma lawsuit: A legal claim seeking compensation from companies responsible for asbestos exposure. These cases seek money for medical expenses, lost income, and other losses.
- Settlement: An agreement in which a company agrees to pay a mesothelioma patient or their family a specific amount of money to resolve a legal claim without a trial verdict.
- Statute of limitations: The legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Time limits depend on state law and the type of claim.
- Wrongful death lawsuit: A legal claim eligible family members or representatives can file after a loved one dies from mesothelioma. It seeks payment for losses caused by the death.
Mesothelioma compensation can help eligible families pay medical bills and replace income lost because of the disease. Mesothelioma Hope works with experienced asbestos law firms, including Simmons Hanly Conroy and Sokolove Law, to connect people with legal assistance.
An asbestos attorney can investigate where exposure occurred and identify companies that may be responsible. They’ll also check the filing deadlines in your state. You can request a Free Mesothelioma Case Review right now to get started.
Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review
Questions to Ask Your Mesothelioma Doctor
You don’t need to understand every medical term before an appointment. If your doctor mentions an unfamiliar test or treatment, ask how it relates to your diagnosis. Bring a notebook or someone who can help you remember important details.
Consider asking these questions at your next visit:
- What does my biopsy report say about my mesothelioma cell type?
- Has the cancer spread beyond the lining where it started?
- Which treatments do you recommend for someone with my diagnosis?
- Can you refer me to a mesothelioma specialist for a second opinion?
You can also request copies of your medical records, including pathology and imaging results. Having these documents available can make seeking a second opinion easier and help avoid unnecessary repeat testing.
How Mesothelioma Hope’s Patient Advocates Can Help
Learning what a medical term means is one thing. Understanding how it affects your treatment can be harder. You may wonder whether a specialist offers a particular surgery or how to arrange a second opinion on your pathology results. Mesothelioma Hope’s Patient Advocates help families with questions like these.
Our team includes Liz Logan, RN, a Board-Certified Patient Advocate and Oncology Nurse Navigator with more than 20 years of health care experience. Liz has spent over a decade caring for cancer patients, giving her firsthand insight into the difficulties families face during treatment.
Our Patient Advocates can help you:
- Find mesothelioma specialists and request second opinions
- Prepare questions about biopsy results or recommended treatments
- Explore clinical trials to discuss with your doctor
- Find financial assistance and mesothelioma support groups
Our advocates don’t replace your medical team. They help you organize information from appointments, research treatment resources, and connect with doctors experienced in mesothelioma care. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or helping a loved one, you can reach out with questions about medical services or family support.
Reach out to us online or call (866) 608-8933 to speak with our team about your diagnosis, treatment options, or finding a mesothelioma specialist.
