Getting diagnosed
Screening means testing people for early stages of a disease. This is before they have any symptoms. For screening to be useful the tests:
need to be reliable at picking up cancers
overall must do more good than harm to people taking part
must be something that people are willing to do
Screening tests are not perfect and have some risks. The screening programme should also be good value for money for the NHS.
There is no national screening programme because:
mesothelioma is rare so many people would have unnecessary tests
there isn’t a screening test to check for mesothelioma
the benefits don't outweigh the costs
It can be difficult to diagnose mesothelioma as the usual tests for lung diseases often appear to be negative.
See your GP if you have any symptoms or are worried about mesothelioma.
Find out when you should see your GP
Your GP will monitor you if you have a high risk of developing mesothelioma. For example, if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past.
See your GP if you have any symptoms that could be due to mesothelioma.
Last reviewed: 31 Jul 2026
Next review due: 31 Jul 2029
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can include chest pain, shortness of breath, extreme tiredness and losing weight when not dieting. There aren't many symptoms in the early stages of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose. You usually have a number of tests to check whether your symptoms are due to mesothelioma. Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, you have further tests to find out how big the tumour is and whether it has spread.
The staging system most commonly used in the UK for pleural mesothelioma is called the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) system.
The treatment you have depends on the stage and type of your mesothelioma. Some people with early stage mesothelioma have surgery. Other treatments include immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that most commonly starts in the layers of tissue that cover each lung (the pleura). More rarely it can start in the layer of tissue covering the organs in your tummy (the peritoneum).
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
Search our clinical trials database for all cancer trials and studies recruiting in the UK.
Connect with other people affected by cancer and share your experiences.
Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
