If you feel chest pain, abdominal pain, swelling in the abdomen, or shortness of breath you should go see a doctor.

The doctor will perform a physical exam that involves listening to your chest where he or she may hear scratching noises.

Its likely the doctor will ask you if you smoke or if you worked in an environment that might of exposed you to asbestos.

From here the doctor will have your chest x-rayed and see if you need any other tests such as blood work.

If the tests reveal a tumor or fluid your physician will need to analyze cells by performing a biopsy of the mass or by tapping fluid from the chest or belly cavity. This is the only way to verify you have mesothelioma.

View our Mesothelioma Facts page for a listing of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) concerning mesothelioma.

View our Mesothelioma Article Index for a listing of our mesothelioma articles and news.