In short: Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos, usually diagnosed decades after exposure. There is currently no cure. Almost everyone diagnosed with mesothelioma is entitled to compensation, and claims can be brought in every Australian state.
Mesothelioma is a rare but serious illness that people who have been exposed to asbestos can develop. The only known cause of mesothelioma in Australia is exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the cells covering the lining around internal organs, usually the lungs. When the cancer develops in the lining of the lungs or chest wall, it is known as pleural mesothelioma. There are other types of mesothelioma, for example peritoneal mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the lining of the abdomen.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important to focus on medical treatment, but also to be aware of your legal options. Almost everyone diagnosed with mesothelioma is entitled to compensation.
What causes mesothelioma?
The only known cause of mesothelioma is breathing in asbestos fibres. When the fibres are inhaled, they can become lodged in the lining of the lungs. Over many years, fibres lodged in the lining can cause changes that lead to cancer. This is mesothelioma.
There are two kinds of asbestos products: friable and non-friable. Friable products contain loose asbestos fibres and usually give off asbestos dust when touched. Non-friable products contain asbestos bonded with other materials, like cement. They only give off asbestos dust when they are cut, drilled, weathered or otherwise disturbed.
Until the mid-1980s, asbestos was used in a very wide variety of ways in Australia and was common in many industries. The people most likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma are those who regularly worked with asbestos products in their job. However, more diagnoses now relate to exposure at home. For example, before the mid-1980s it was common in Australia to use bonded asbestos products (fibro) in home renovations. About one in three Australian homes contains asbestos. If your home was built before 1983, it is likely to contain some asbestos materials.
The greater the level of exposure to asbestos, the greater the risk of developing an asbestos disease, including mesothelioma. However, there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos, and even people with minimal exposure may go on to develop mesothelioma.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a very rare cancer, even for people who have been exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma usually appears decades after exposure. For Australians diagnosed between 2010 and 2020, the median time from first exposure to diagnosis was about 50 years. Very often, people who have previously been in good health become ill and within weeks to months receive an unexpected diagnosis of mesothelioma.
In its early stages, there may be no signs that something is wrong. As it develops, symptoms can include shortness of breath, fatigue, a persistent dry cough, and pain in the chest, abdomen or shoulders. It may take some time before doctors can rule out other causes and confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed by a biopsy.
How is mesothelioma treated?
There is currently no cure for mesothelioma. Life expectancy after diagnosis is usually months to a few years. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. More recently, immunotherapy has had significant success in some patients.
How long have the risks of asbestos been known?
The dangers of asbestos dust were reported as early as 1898, and the link between asbestos and mesothelioma was established by the early 1960s. Courts have accepted that the risks were known (or should have been known) to manufacturers, like James Hardie, from at least 1953, decades before they stopped making and selling asbestos products (see John William Booth v Amaca Pty Limited and Amaba Pty Limited [2010] NSWDDT 8). Read more in History of knowledge of the risks of asbestos.
Can I claim compensation for mesothelioma?
Almost everyone diagnosed with mesothelioma is entitled to compensation. The claims open to you depend on how and where you were exposed to asbestos. Segelov Taylor Lawyers can advise you of your legal options and help you start proceedings if you choose to do so.
The process for obtaining compensation varies from state to state. Segelov Taylor Lawyers acts for people in every Australian state and overseas, from offices in Sydney and Melbourne.
How much compensation you may receive depends on your circumstances, including your age, your pain and suffering, your lost income, the care you need, and the state where your claim is brought. We can give you an estimate once we know your situation. Read about a recent decision in Martin and Amaca: setting a new benchmark for mesothelioma compensation.
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos disease, call us on 1800 430 855 for a free, confidential conversation about your options.
Read more: What is the difference between asbestosis and mesothelioma? and Facts: asbestos exposure and cancer risk
Reviewed by David Taylor, Segelov Taylor Lawyers, September 2026.