Mesothelioma Help: Watch the Video, Understand Your Diagnosis, Explore Your Options
If you or someone you love has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed. The word itself is scary. The disease is rare. And suddenly, you’re facing decisions about treatment, specialists, and legal rights—most of them with little guidance.
That’s exactly why we created the video on this page.
It’s about an hour long and designed to give you a clear, honest understanding of what mesothelioma is, how it happens, and what your options are—medically and legally. You’ll hear directly from doctors who treat this disease, as well as from our firm's founder Justinian Lane, an asbestos attorney who lost three family members to asbestos-related cancers.
We know you’re searching for answers. This video is our way of giving you a starting point—something solid to hold onto in the middle of the chaos.
If you want help making sense of medical terms used in the video or in your own pathology results, try our Mesothelioma Lexicon - a plain-language glossary for hundreds of medical and legal terms. Or if you're too overwhelmed just call us at 833-4-ASBESTOS. We’ll answer your family's questions and explain your options.
Below the video, you’ll find trusted information about how mesothelioma is diagnosed, what your pathology report really says, and links to information on the treatment options available for each type of mesothelioma. Whether you’re just starting this journey or already in the middle of it, this page was built to guide you.
VIDEO GOES HERE
There Are Four Places Mesothelioma Can Occur
Mesothelioma is not just one disease—it’s actually four related cancers, all starting in the mesothelium, the thin layer of cells that lines certain parts of the body. While they share a common cause (almost always asbestos exposure), each type behaves differently depending on where it forms.
Below is a quick overview of each type. You can click to learn more about each one, including detailed pages on 2025 treatments, prognosis, and costs.
Pleural Mesothelioma (Lungs)
Pleural mesothelioma forms in the lining of the lungs (pleura) and is by far the most common type, making up about 75–80% of all cases. It often causes chest pain, coughing, and difficulty breathing due to fluid buildup. Most treatment plans involve chemotherapy, and some patients may qualify for surgery or radiation.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma (Abdomen)
Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and accounts for about 10–20% of all mesothelioma cases. It can cause abdominal pain, swelling, digestive issues, and unexplained weight loss due to fluid accumulation. Many patients are treated with chemotherapy, while some may be candidates for cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which can significantly improve survival in selected cases.
Pericardial Mesothelioma (Heart Lining)
This rare form of mesothelioma starts in the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium) and accounts for fewer than 1% of cases. It’s difficult to detect early, often mistaken for heart disease, and may only be found during surgery or autopsy. Treatment is limited but may include systemic therapies or palliative procedures.
Testicular Mesothelioma (Tunica Vaginalis)
The rarest form, testicular mesothelioma, develops in the membrane around the testicle (tunica vaginalis). It may present as a painless swelling or a mass that seems like a hernia or hydrocele. Surgery is usually the primary treatment, and long-term outcomes depend on how early it's found.
There Are Three Main Subtypes of Mesothelioma
After a biopsy, your medical team will receive a pathology report. It’s a critical document—because this is where the diagnosis is either confirmed or questioned. But unless you're a pathologist, the report probably reads like another language.
One of the most important things the report does is confirm whether mesothelioma is present, and if so, identify the subtype. That subtype can significantly influence your prognosis and treatment plan.
If mesothelioma is confirmed, the report should classify the tumor into one of these three types:
Epithelioid Mesothelioma
This is the most common and most treatable form. Epithelioid cells tend to respond better to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. Most long-term survivors have this subtype. Learn more about epithelioid mesothelioma »Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
A rarer and more aggressive form. Sarcomatoid cells grow in a disorganized, spindle-like pattern, making them more resistant to treatment. Surgery is often not an option unless part of a clinical trial. Learn more about sarcomatoid mesothelioma »Biphasic Mesothelioma
A mix of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. How it behaves depends on the proportion of each cell type. The more epithelioid cells, the better the prognosis. Learn more about biphasic mesothelioma »
If your pathology report doesn’t mention the subtype—or says it couldn’t be classified—you should ask why. It may be worth seeking a second opinion from a pathologist experienced in mesothelioma.
Are You Sure it's Mesothelioma?
This disease is so rare that many doctors never see a case in their entire career. If your diagnosis was based only on imaging (like a CT or PET scan), or fluid drawn from the chest or abdomen, it’s not definitive. A confirmed diagnosis requires a tissue biopsy, reviewed by a board-certified pathologist with specific experience in mesothelioma. We’ve seen families go through chemotherapy, surgery, or even legal claims based on a diagnosis that later turned out to be wrong. That’s why we strongly recommend taking the time to verify the diagnosis—and when in doubt, get a second opinion.
Understanding Your Pathology Report to Understand Your Mesothelioma
One of the most complex—but crucial—parts of a mesothelioma diagnosis is something called immunohistochemistry, or IHC. You’ll see this in your pathology report as a panel of tests with confusing names and results like “positive 4+ of 4+” or “negative 0+ of 4+.”
Let’s break it down.
When cancer tissue is removed, pathologists apply special stains to it in the lab. These stains "light up" specific proteins that help identify what kind of cancer it is—almost like fingerprinting a tumor. That’s what immunohistochemistry does.
No single stain confirms mesothelioma. Instead, doctors look for a pattern—some proteins (markers) should show up as positive, and others as negative.
Here's an excerpt from a real pathology report:
CK AE1/AE3: positive, 4+ of 4+, cytoplasmic
Calretinin: positive, 3–4+ of 4+, cytoplasmic/nuclear
CK7: positive, 4+ of 4+, cytoplasmic
CK20 and S100: negative, 0+ of 4+
WT-1: positive, 3+ of 4+, nuclear
What does this mean?
Positive markers like Calretinin, WT-1, and CK7 support a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Negative markers like CK20 and S100 help rule out other cancers (like adenocarcinoma or melanoma).
The intensity scores (e.g., 4+ of 4+) describe how strongly the stain appeared, and the cellular location (cytoplasmic or nuclear) gives additional clues.
This particular pattern is consistent with epithelioid mesothelioma, which is the most common variety and the variety that responds best to treatment.
If you’d like to understand more about what these markers mean—and how pathologists use them to confirm or rule out mesothelioma—check out our Tumor Markers and IHC Staining encyclopedia entry. It explains every marker in this report and many others, in plain language you don’t need a medical degree to understand.
And if you’re looking at a report now and aren’t sure what it means, you can call us at 833-4-ASBESTOS. We’re happy to help interpret it or get it reviewed by a specialist.
How This Website Can Help Your Family Today
A mesothelioma diagnosis is a lot to process. You’re expected to make major decisions—about treatment, specialists, legal options—often without enough information or time to think.
That’s why we built this site.
Everything here is designed to help you feel less helpless, make more confident medical decisions, and have stronger, more informed conversations with your doctors, providers, and family members.
Here are some of the tools you can start using right now—no signup, no phone call, no obligation:
The Mesothelioma Lexicon
Over 300 terms related to medicine, law, and asbestos science—each explained in plain language, with audio pronunciation guides.
Encyclopedia Articles
Detailed explainers on asbestos history, legal rulings, pathology, tumor markers, treatment strategies, and more.
The Gardner Memorial Medical Library
Thousands of peer-reviewed medical studies on mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases—each summarized in accessible, non-technical language.
Video Library
More than 300 short videos covering asbestos law, mesothelioma treatment, historical evidence, trust fund strategies, and patient support—featuring doctors, researchers, and our lead attorney.
Legal Options Page
Plain-language guides to your rights, timelines, and available compensation—including asbestos trust funds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security Disability.
State-Specific Legal Pages
Know your deadlines, filing rights, and exposure laws based on where you or your loved one lived, worked, or were diagnosed.
We built this site to help families like yours—families who’ve been blindsided by mesothelioma and want to make sense of what’s happening. You can take your time here. And when you’re ready to talk to someone, we’ll be here for that too.
When You’re Ready for Hands-On Help, We’re Here
Reading and researching can take you far—but when your family is ready to take action, we can walk the rest of the path with you.
Whether you need help finding the right doctor, understanding your insurance, or pursuing compensation, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. And we don’t just help with the legal side—we help with the practical, emotional, and financial side too.
Here are some of the ways our law firm is standing by to help your family:
Treatment Support
Mesothelioma care is specialized—and not every hospital or doctor has the experience to treat it effectively. We can help you:
Find doctors and treatment centers with proven mesothelioma experience
Understand your pathology report and imaging results, in plain language
Coordinate second opinions from leading cancer centers
Advance travel costs so you can access the care you deserve, even if it’s out of town
We’ve helped clients travel to top cancer centers across the country, from MD Anderson to UCSF to the Mayo Clinic—and we’ll do the same for you.
Financial Assistance
Treating mesothelioma often costs well into six figures. We help families access every possible source of financial support, including:
Social Security Disability (SSDI)—fast-tracked for mesothelioma cases
Medicare and Medicaid navigation
Private insurance appeals and support
VA benefits (for veterans with military asbestos exposure)
We understand how overwhelming medical bills can be. Let us handle the paperwork so you can focus on your health.
Legal Representation
We’ve recovered over $400 million for families affected by asbestos-related diseases. Whether you were exposed at work, in the military, or through a family member’s job, we can:
Explain your legal rights—without pressure or obligation
File asbestos trust fund claims
Pursue lawsuits against manufacturers of asbestos-containing products
Work with your schedule, your health, and your comfort level every step of the way
Veterans Support
A significant number of our clients were exposed during their military service. We help veterans:
Access VA benefits and health care
Recover military service records (DD-214)
Document asbestos exposure during military assignments
File VA claims for mesothelioma and related illnesses
My grandfather served in the U.S. Army, and my father was in the Army Air Forces. Both died from asbestos-related cancers. If you’d like to know more about why we fight for families like yours, read my story here. - Firm Founder Justinian Lane
You’ll Never Be Just a Case File
We’ve built this firm around one principle: treat every client like family. That means:
Real people answering the phone—24/7
Clear, honest communication—no pressure, no tricks
Flexible meetings—at your home, over video, or wherever you’re comfortable
When things feel out of control, information is a lifeline. We’re here to give you answers—and when you're ready, to help you act on them.
You don’t have to have it all figured out today.
Just take the next step.
Call us at 833-4-ASBESTOS or send us a message—whether you’re looking for answers, support, or a path forward. We’re here to help your family however and whenever you need us.