There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers. People who were exposed to asbestos on the job at any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not smoke. If they smoke, they should stop.

Early signs of mesothelioma are often similar to pneumonia with symptoms including chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and a build up of fluid (shown by a chest x-ray). The most commonly affected lung is the right, approximately 60% of the time, while symptoms in both lungs are rare at 5% of the time. Mesothelioma symptoms are not limited to the above and can also include weight loss, fever nausea and abdomen swelling (for those affected by peritoneal Mesothelioma).

One thing to consider is that early symptoms of mesothelioma can be miss-diagnosed. Part of the reason is that many of the symptoms are similar to pneumonia, including shortness of breath, persistent cough and chest pain.

Mesothelioma develops at a slow rate, making it difficult for people to know when they have it. The first symptoms of mesothelioma are often shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, cough, nausea, pain in abdomen, or anaemia. All of these symptoms are also caused by less serious illnesses, which makes it difficult to recognize the disease in its early stages. If you have worked with or been exposed to asbestos you should get screened, even if you do not feel sick.

Mesothelioma is more treatable when diagnosed early.