How common is it and what do I have to do?

In the past 20 years the reported incidence rates of cases dealing with mesothelioma increased a lot. Though the disease still is a very rare form of cancer. Each year there are about 2000 new cases diagnosed in the United States. It occurs more often in men than in women and the risk of suffering from it raises with age. But actually it can appear in either men or women at any age.
If you suggest an infection initially, you should consult a doctor who will give you adequate antibiotic treatment. If then the infection does not resolve within two weeks, a consultation of a pulmonary specialist is essential.
Compulsorily for follow-up are chest radiographs if the infection has resolved. A full evaluation by a pulmonary specialist AND oncologist is only necessary if the patients pleura is diffuse calcificated and if there is a history of unexplainable weight loss with chronic cough.
If the diagnosis is considered, a letter of referral for a thoracoscopy may be warranted. Also family members with exposure to asbestos should all be evaluated, so the whole occupational history is important.
After having been treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, patients usually are cachetic. Therefore it is required to warrant a good supportive care and a regular nutritional status assessment. So the patients should as soon a possible be referred to a nutritionist.

To prevent postoperative complications it is important to begin with physical activity as soon as possible.
Also pulmonary physiotherapy is very helpful because of the her extensive lung resection in such patients.