Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining that covers the outside of some organs in the body. It is often linked to asbestos exposure. 

About mesothelioma

Mesothelioma develops after a change in the DNA of the cells in the lining that covers the outside of some organs in the body. (DNA is the genetic material that tells cells what to do.) As these faulty cells divide and multiply, they eventually cause a cancer. 

Mesothelioma can develop in the lining of the:

  • Lungs (pleural mesothelioma) – this is the most common type of mesothelioma 
  • Tummy (peritoneal mesothelioma)
  • Heart
  • Testicles

More than 2,700 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Men are more likely to develop it than women. It is more common in people aged 65 and over.

Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, a material that was used in construction until it was banned in 1999. It has microscopic fibres that can get into the lungs and damage them over time. It can take many years for problems to develop.

Symptoms usually develop gradually over time. 

Symptoms of mesothelioma in the lungs include:  

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Extreme tiredness that does not go away (fatigue)
  • High temperature and sweating, particularly at night 
  • Persistent cough
  • Loss of appetite and losing weight without trying 
  • Swollen fingertips (known as clubbing)

Symptoms of mesothelioma in the tummy include:  

  • Tummy pain or swelling
  • Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
  • Loss of appetite and losing weight without trying
  • Diarrhoea (runny poo) or constipation

It is important to see a health professional if you have symptoms or changes in your body that are unusual for you. Tell them about any exposure you have had to asbestos. 

Treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

Treatment depends on a range of factors including the type, size, stage and location of your tumour. It may also depend on your age, general health and genetic factors (linked to the DNA changes in your cells) that tell us how your cancer developed. 

Treatment options can include one or more of the following:

  • Surgery – this may be before, during or after other treatments
  • Drug therapies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The general term for these is systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT)
  • Radiotherapy

When you are diagnosed, your care will be discussed at a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) where different specialists will consider the best treatment options for you. Your doctor will discuss this with you so you can decide what is right for you.

The regional mesothelioma clinic is held at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool on Tuesday mornings (Patients may at times be seen for follow up on the Wirral site).

Genomics is the study of a person’s genes (or ‘genome’) – the material in DNA that makes each person unique. Cancer is caused by changes in the DNA of a cell and tell it to multiply out of control. 

Understanding where this change has occurred – for example, which gene is faulty – can help us know which treatment will give you the best chance of killing the cancer cells and stopping new ones from growing. 

Your clinical team will explain this to you in more detail at your appointment.

At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, we provide specialist non-surgical treatment for mesothelioma. 

Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT)

SACT is a term used to describe the different drug therapies for cancer. The treatments we offer for mesothelioma include:

  • Chemotherapy – which aims to kill cancer cells
  • Immunotherapy – which aims to train your immune system to attack cancer 
  • Targeted therapies – which aim to target the DNA and cell changes that cause cancer. For example, BRAF targeted therapy which blocks a protein linked to cancer cells

Find out more about systemic anti-cancer therapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy can be used to treat mesothelioma. Sometimes radiotherapy is given instead of surgery. Sometimes it is used to shrink the tumour before, during or after other treatment. Sometimes it is used to relieve symptoms such as pain. 

We use different types of radiotherapy, depending on the type, size, location and stage of the cancer. 

The radiotherapy treatments we offer for mesothelioma include:

  • Traditional external beam radiotherapy – where radiation is delivered from outside the body

Find out more about radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 
 

Research and trials of new cancer treatments are an important part of our work. Your consultant will tell you about any clinical trials that may be suitable for you.

You are also very welcome to ask us about clinical trials during your appointments. We will be happy to answer any questions you have. 

Find out more about clinical trials.

We have a multi-site model where we visit hospitals across Cheshire and Merseyside to provide treatment and consultations closer to patients’ homes. 

We provide systemic anti-cancer therapies (e.g. chemotherapy and immunotherapy) for mesothelioma at the following sites:

We provide radiotherapy for mesothelioma in our three specialist sites: 

Clinical trials for mesothelioma are delivered at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool.

Our team

The team consists of clinical oncologists, medical oncologists, a clinical nurse specialist, pharmacy, administrative support and a cancer support worker. 

Our operational management team makes sure the service runs smoothly.

Medical Oncologists

Dr Jonny Heseltine
Dr Matt Howell
Dr Richard Griffiths 

Clinical Oncologists

Dr Anthony Pope

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Molly Chapman

Cancer Support Worker

Hayley Sohl

Further information

Virtual tour of Radiotherapy unit (CCC-Liverpool)

Our Cancer Information and Support Centres can provide individualised help and support for patients and families affected by cancer. The team’s main base is in Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool but they also work at our Aintree and Wirral hospitals.

There are also local Macmillan services in other hospitals across our region.

External sites that offer extra support and information about mesothelioma include: