Skip to content
Mesothelioma.net
phone iconCall1-800-692-8608 chat icon Chat 24/7 Live Chat
Menu
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • About Mesothelioma
      • How to Survive Mesothelioma
      • 100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Prognosis
      • Life Expectancy
    • Types
      • Pleural
      • Peritoneal
      • Epithelioid
      • Sarcomatoid
      • Biphasic
    • Stages
      • Stage 1
      • Stage 2
      • Stage 3
      • Stage 4
    • Additional Information
      • Causes
      • Asbestos and Its Dangers
      • Facts
      • Support
      • Financial Compensation
      • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
  • Treatment
    • Treatment Options
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Multimodal Therapy
      • Medications
      • Palliative Treatment
    • Find Top Doctors
      • Doctors
      • Treatment Centers
      • Treatment & Doctors Near You
      • New Treatments
      • Care Providers
      • Clinical Trials
      • Costs
  • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
  • Veteran Assistance
    • Mesothelioma and Veterans
      • VA Claims for Mesothelioma
      • Vietnam Veterans
    • Military Branches and Asbestos
      • Navy Veterans
      • Navy Ships
      • Marine Corps Veterans
      • Army Veterans
      • Air Force Veterans
      • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • About Us / Contact
  • Home
  • ›
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
  • ›
  • Complications
Page Updated: February 06, 2022

Complications of Mesothelioma

Anne Courtney Page Medically Reviewed and Edited by Anne Courtney, AOCNP, DNP

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Fact Checked

This page has been fact-checked by a Doctor of nursing practice specializing in Oncology and has experience working with mesothelioma patients.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article. We make every attempt to keep our information accurate and up-to-date. 

Please Contact Us with any questions or comments.

Complications of mesothelioma vary by individual and range from uncomfortable pleural effusions to emotional distress and mental health challenges. Complete care for mesothelioma patients must consider all possible complications. Treatments should address cancer itself as well as these secondary conditions and symptoms.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Physical Complications

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma cancer. It impacts the tissue surrounding the lungs and the chest cavity.

Many of the complications of pleural mesothelioma are related to the lungs and breathing but may also affect the diaphragm, the heart, and the spine. Complications can come from the cancer itself or the treatment. They often result from a combination of both.[1][2]

A fairly common complication for patients with pleural mesothelioma is pleural effusion. Pleural effusion occurs when fluid accumulates in the chest cavity. This fluid compresses the lungs, making breathing difficult or even painful. Draining accumulated fluid is the only treatment, although the problem will likely recur even with treatment. Pain is common with mesothelioma.

Tumors of the pleural tissue can place pressure on the spine and nerves, causing pain. Surgery or painkillers may help manage pain.[3]

More serious complications may occur as the cancer progresses, including lung collapse. Tumors around the lungs can lead to pressure changes and unusual accumulation of air. This can ultimately cause a collapse.

Over time, cancer may also metastasize. When tumors develop in other parts of the body, these tumors may cause other complications.[2]

Complications of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a common treatment strategy for most mesothelioma patients. It involves the administration of drugs to target fast-growing cells. Because this is a non-specific treatment, some healthy cells will also be affected. The death of healthy cells leads to side effects.

It can affect your immune system and put you at higher risk of having life-threatening infections. If your platelets decrease to a dangerous level, you can be at a higher risk of bleeding.[4]

Chemotherapeutic treatment causes several immediate side effects. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, mouth sores, constipation, bruising, and pain. There are also potential long-term complications:

  • Lung tissue damage
  • Poor heart function
  • Kidneys damage
  • Liver damage
  • Nerves damage
  • Infertility

Radiation Effects

Radiation therapy is another treatment often used for mesothelioma patients. Radiation involves a beam of high-energy radiation aimed at the tumor site.

Like chemotherapy, radiation can cause some short-term side effects. Potential side effects for treating tumors in the chest include skin rashes and burns, shortness of breath, cough, chest pains, weakness, and fever.[5]

Radiation therapy may also cause long-term complications. As the high-energy beam penetrates the body to reach the tumor, it also damages normal, healthy cells. Because healthy cells are affected, radiation can cause serious, lasting damage to organs.

Each organ will have certain lifetime total limits, and some will have higher potential rates of complications. While radiation increases the risk of developing secondary cancers, this process takes several years, and patients will die from mesothelioma before this happens.[5]

Complications of Surgery

Not all mesothelioma patients are good candidates for surgical treatment. A tumor may be difficult to reach or may have spread to distant sites. For those who choose to undergo surgery, there are risks and complications to consider.

Any surgery can lead to complications like bleeding, infections, blood clots, and tissue damage. With surgery targeting the lungs, pleura, and chest cavity, there are risks of pneumonia and loss of lung function.[6]

These complications are a concern for any surgery in this area; however, the risk of complications is high for an extrapleural pneumonectomy, or EPP. EPP is a radical type of surgery sometimes used to treat mesothelioma.

It involves removing an entire lung with the pleural tissue, part of the diaphragm, and some lymph nodes. While radical and invasive, this type of surgery gives some patients a chance at remission.[7]

Emotional, Mental, and Social Effects of Mesothelioma

In addition to the physical complications of mesothelioma and its treatments, there are also other consequences. A diagnosis of incurable cancer with a poor prognosis has serious effects on mental well-being.

Patients with mesothelioma often experience fear, anger, anxiety, depression, and stress. This can affect the whole family or support unit structure.[8]

Complications related to mental health are as important as those that affect physical health. Depression and anxiety can lower a patient’s quality of life.

Additionally, patients may suffer social consequences. While living with mesothelioma, it is easy to feel isolated. Because mesothelioma is such a rare disease, it can feel lonely, not knowing others experiencing the same devastating illness.[9]

Medical teams must address mental and social complications for patients with mesothelioma. Doctors should be prepared to include mental health professionals as part of a patient’s treatment team. Patients should also have a strong support network to help reduce feelings of loneliness, sadness, and anxiety. A support group of other cancer patients can make a big difference in reducing feelings of isolation, stress, and depression.

The effects of mesothelioma go well beyond the immediate symptoms. Tumors can cause serious complications, as can treatments used to reduce or eliminate them. In addition to physical complications, mesothelioma takes a mental and emotional toll. Patients with mesothelioma need medical teams willing to address the treatment of the cancer and potential physical, mental, and emotional complications.

Get Your FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Page Medically Reviewed and Edited by Anne Courtney, AOCNP, DNP

Anne Courtney

Anne Courtney has a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and is an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner. She has years of oncology experience working with patients with malignant mesothelioma, as well as other types of cancer. Dr. Courtney currently works at University of Texas LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes.

Connect with Doctor of Nursing Practice Anne Courtney
References
  1. Mayo Clinic. (2019, January 15). Mesothelioma. Symptoms and Causes.
    Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/basics/complications/con-20026157
  2. Murphy, D.J. and Gill, R.R. (2017, June). Overview of Treatment Related Complications in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Ann. Transl. Med. 5(11), 235.
    Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5497107/
  3. Maldonado, F. (2018, January). Learn about Mesothelioma. Chest Foundation.
    Retrieved from: https://foundation.chestnet.org/patient-education-resources/mesothelioma/
  4. American Cancer Society. (2018, November 16). Chemotherapy for Malignant Mesothelioma.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating/chemotherapy.html
  5. American Cancer Society. (2019, December 27). Radiation Therapy Side Effects.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/radiation/understandingradiationtherapyaguideforpatientsandfamilies/understanding-radiation-therapy-long-term-side-effects
  6. American Cancer Society. (2018, November 16). Surgery for Malignant Mesothelioma.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignantmesothelioma/detailedguide/malignant-mesothelioma-treating-surgery
  7. University of California San Francisco Department of Surgery. (n.d.). Extrapleural Pneumonectomy.
    Retrieved from: https://surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions–procedures/extrapleural-pneumonectomy.aspx
  8. Cancer Care. (2019, May 12). Caregiving: Providing Emotional Support.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancercare.org/publications/247-caregiving_providing_emotional_support
  9. National Cancer Institute. (2018, August 20). Feelings and Cancer.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings
View All References

Site Navigation

Home
Malignant Mesothelioma
How to Survive Mesothelioma
100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
Surviving Mesothelioma - Beating the Odds (Free Book)
FREE Mesothelioma Packet
Symptoms
Shortness of Breath
Cough
Night Sweats and Fever
Weight Loss
Pain
Difficulty Swallowing
Fatigue and Muscle Weakness
Gastrointestinal Complications
Diagnosis
Pathology
Staging
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Metastasis and Progression
Brain Metastasis
Biopsy
miRview Test
Imaging
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Biomarkers and Blood Tests
Calretinin
Prognosis
Remission
Recurrence
Death Rate
Life Expectancy
Search for a Mesothelioma Cure
Types
Pleural
Peritoneal
Epithelioid
Sarcomatoid
Biphasic
Pericardial
Testicular
Cell Types
Rare Subtypes of Epithelial Mesothelioma
Deciduoid
Desmoplastic
Heterologous
Lymphohistiocytoid
Well-Differentiated Papillary
Tubulopapillary
Small Cell
Benign
Adenomatoid
Cystic
Unresectable
Localized
Idiopathic
Omental
Causes
Risk Factors
Latest Research
Genetic Components
Incidence
Latency Period
Mesothelioma Tumor
Health Insurance Coverage
Related Conditions
Immunodeficiency Disorders
Cholangiocarcinoma
Atelectasis
Pleural Plaques
Pleural Thickening
Pleural Effusion
Peritoneal Effusion (Ascites)
Mesothelial Hyperplasia and Proliferation
Pleuritis and Pleurisy
COPD
Anemia
Breast Cancer
Prevention
Complications
Misdiagnosis
Mesothelioma Commercial
Talcum Baby Powder
Lawyer
Lawsuits
Class Action Lawsuits
Settlements
Simian Virus 40
Differences From Other Cancers
Lung Cancer
Women
Children and Young Adults
Unknown Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma Without Asbestos
Cause of Death
Facts 
History
Awareness
Government and Research
National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank
Support
What to Expect
Living with Mesothelioma
Help a Loved One
Wrong and Right Things to Say
Caregivers
Financial Tips
Faith
Nutrition and Lifestyle
Intimacy
Mesothelioma and Fertility in Men
Fertility in Women with Mesothelioma
Emotional Health
COVID-19
Assisted Living
Hospice Care
Dying from Mesothelioma
Mourning
Coping Guide for Children
End-of-Life Decisions
Mesothelioma Awareness Day
Compensation for Victims
Lawyer
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington D.C.
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Lawsuit
Settlements
Statute of Limitations
Treatment
Surgery
Side Effects
Pneumonectomy
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Lobectomy
Pleurectomy / Decortication
Post Op Care
Pleurectomy / Decortication vs. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Peritonectomy/Cytoreductive Surgery
Thoracotomy
Thoracoscopy
Pericardiectomy
Wedge Resection
Pleurodesis
Pericardiocentesis
Prosthetics
Paracentesis
Thoracentesis
Chemotherapy
Side Effects
Heated Intraperitoneal
Radiation Therapy
Side Effects
Intensity-Modulated
Brachytherapy
Proton Therapy
Image-Guided
External Beam
Three-Dimensional
Multimodal Therapy
New Treatments
SMART Protocol
Gene Therapy
Suicide Gene Therapy
Tumor-Based p53 Therapy
Cryotherapy for Mesothelioma
Tumor Treating Fields
MicroRNA
Palliative Treatment
Osteopathic
Doctors
Treatment Centers
Treatment & Doctors Near You
Mesothelioma Experts
Medications
Alimta (pemetrexed)
Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
Avastin (bevacizumab)
Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)
Gemzar (gemcitabine)
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)
Mitomycin
Navelbine (vinorelbine)
Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab)
Paraplatin (carboplatin)
Platinol (cisplatin)
Rheumatrex (methotrexate)
Sutent (sunitinib)
Taxol (paclitaxel)
Medical Marijuana
Care Providers
Clinical Trials
Anetumab Ravtansine
Atezolizumab
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell
Durvalumab
Immunotoxin
Interferon Alfa-2b
Onconase (Ranpirnase)
VISTA Protein
Costs
Immunotherapy
Nanotechnology
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Home Medical Equipment
HMGB1 Secretion
Photodynamic Therapy
Targeted Therapies
Apoptosis
Stem Cells
Lung Transplantation
Body-Based Therapies
Alternative Therapies
Paul Kraus’s Method
Doctors and Treatment in Canada
Asbestos Trusts
Veterans
VA Claims for Mesothelioma
Vietnam Veterans
Military Branches and Asbestos
Navy Veterans
Navy Ships
Aircraft Carriers
Battleships
Destroyers
Asbestos on Navy Cruisers
Submarines
Amphibious Ships
Minesweepers
Auxiliary Ships
Marine Corps Veterans
Army Veterans
Air Force Veterans
U.S. Coast Guard
Asbestos
Occupational Exposure
Construction Workers
Shipyard Workers
Ship Repair
Steel Mill Workers
Industrial Workers
Boiler Workers
Power Plant Workers
Firefighters
Automotive Workers
Roofers
Oil Refineries
Mining
Transportation Industry
Machine Operators
Farmers and Agricultural Workers
Migrant Workers
Electrical Wiring
Labor Unions
Prisons
Chimneys, Furnaces, and Wood Stoves
Fiberglass Connection to Mesothelioma
Home Remodeling
School Buildings, Teachers
For Tech Students
Cancer
Lung Cancer
Pleural Based Cancers
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
Companies That Used Asbestos
Awareness and Education
Types of Asbestos & Mesothelioma Risk
Asbestosis
Interstitial Lung Disease
Smoking
Asbestos Ingestion
Exposure in a Natural Disaster
Ban Asbestos
Libby, Montana
Recycling Asbestos
Asbestos Detection
Legal Information by State
Canada
Mexico
United Kingdom
Australia
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • Treatment
    • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
    • Veteran Assistance
    • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
    • Mesothelioma News
    • About Us / Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Editorial Guidelines and Standards
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
The information provided by Mesothelioma.net is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Mesothelioma.net

5430 LBJ Freeway Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75240

Serving mesothelioma victims nationwide

1-800-692-8608

  • facebook
  • twitter
© 2022 Mesothelioma.net