Mesothelioma

Complications

As pleural mesothelioma spreads in the chest, it puts pressure on the structures in that area. This can cause complications, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swelling caused by pressure on the large vein that leads from your upper body to your heart (superior vena cava syndrome)
• Pain caused by pressure on the nerves and spinal cord

Mesothelioma that progresses can lead to death. People who die of mesothelioma usually die from related complications, such as lung failure, bowel obstruction, heart problems, stroke and other causes.