Smoking does not increase the risk of developing a malignant mesothelioma, although it does increase the risk of developing other kinds of lung cancer. There is no screening test for malignant mesotheliomas because of the slow growth of the tumor. There are several different ways to try to treat a mesothelioma. One of the most common methods is through surgery. Surgery can include the removal of part of the tissue lining the chest or abdomen, or even part or the entire effected lung.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to try and kill cancer cells.
Sometimes doctors will try to give pills for the patient to take, or sometimes the drugs can be injected into the chest cavity. All of these treatments have been tried in attempt to cure mesothelioma, or at least lengthen the lives of the patients. In the case of mesothelioma, these methods have not been effective in curing the disease. The average survival time is between 6-12 months. So, most of the treatment for mesothelioma patients is focused on making them as comfortable as possible.