Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

  • Overview
  • Appointments
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Locations
  • Physicians

    • What is mesothelioma?

    Mesothelioma of the lung is a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura). It is also called malignant pleural mesothelioma. Most people with this cancer have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos, a fiber that was used in insulation materials.

    Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, or pain or swelling in the abdomen.

    Treatment, which includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, is based on whether the cancer has spread (metastasized) and the stage of the cancer.
     

    Appointment Information


    The Lung Cancer Program evaluates and treats patients with known or suspected lung tumors and severe emphysema.  Each week, a team of thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists and other experts reviews each patient's case and provides a personalized treatment plan.

    If you've been diagnosed with lung cancer, or suspect you may have it, please call 734-647-8902.

    If you're referring a patient, please contact M-Line 800-962-3555.

    For people with questions, please call our Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.

    What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?


    Sometimes the cancer causes fluid to collect in the chest or in the abdomen. Signs and symptoms may be caused by the fluid, malignant mesothelioma, or other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:

    • trouble breathing
    • cough
    • pain under the rib cage
    • pain or swelling in the abdomen
    • lumps in the abdomen
    • constipation
    • problems with blood clots (clots form when they shouldn't)
    • weight loss for no known reason
    • fatigue (feeling very tired)

    How is mesothelioma diagnosed?


    Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma in the chest and lung cancer. If you have symptoms that suggest mesothelioma, the doctor will need to find out if these are due to cancer or to another problem. The doctor will ask when the symptoms started and how often you have been having them. They will also ask about your personal and family health history and do a physical exam. Depending on these results, they may recommend other tests. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, the results of these tests will help you and your doctor plan treatment.

    The tests and procedures used to diagnose mesothelioma may include:

    • Chest x-ray is a type of radiation that can go through the body and make pictures of the organs and bones inside the chest.
    • CT scan (CAT scan) uses a computer linked to an x-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are taken from different angles and are used to create 3-D views of tissues and organs. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
    • Biopsy is the removal of cells or tissues from the pleura or peritoneum so that a pathologist can view it under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.

    How is mesothelioma treated?


    There are different types of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma.  The following types of treatment are used:

    • Surgery
    • Radiation therapy
    • Chemotherapy
    • Immunotherapy
    • Targeted therapy
    • Clinical trials

    Locations
    • Thoracic Oncology Clinic | Rogel Cancer Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
      Floor B1 Reception E
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5912       Get Directions
    • Thoracic Surgery Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
      Floor 2 Reception C
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5344       Get Directions

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor     Andrew Ching-Hung Chang, MD

    Andrew Ching-Hung Chang, MD

    Professor

    Thoracic Surgery, Surgery

    Michigan Photo

    Aleksandar Filip Dragovic, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Radiation Oncology

    labcoat

    Peggy Ping Hsu, MD, PhD

    Clinical Instructor

    Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine

    Shruti Jolly, MD

    Shruti Jolly, MD, MBA

    Clinical Professor

    Radiation Oncology

    Gregory Peter Kalemkerian, MD

    Clinical Professor

    Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine

    Kiran Hari Lagisetty, MD

    Kiran Hari Lagisetty, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Thoracic Surgery, Surgery

    Jules Lin, MD

    Professor

    Thoracic Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Surgery

    William Robert Lynch, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Thoracic Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Surgery

    Arathi Mohan, MD

    Arathi Mohan, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine

    David Duston Odell, MD

    David Duston Odell, MD

    Professor

    Thoracic Surgery, Surgery

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