The early symptoms of mesothelioma are:

• Pain in the chest area or pain at the lower back
• Heavy breathing or shortness of breath
• Difficult to swallow
• Persistent cough
• Fatigue and fever
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain and
• Nausea and vomiting.

Mesothelioma is a relatively slow growing tumor that most commonly originates in the lung but can also arise in the abdomen and the tunica vaginalis. The diagnosis can be difficult to prove. Once made there is tendency for the diagnosis to be met with a sense of hopelessness because it is a horrible disease, often with months of unremitting pain and the inevitability of death.

Some of the other occupation related deadly diseases are:

Black lung disease: A morbid condition of the lungs caused by inhalation of coal dust. A disease in the pneumoconiosis family, black lung afflicts many coal miners and causes total disability or death. It is covered under a federal law (Black Lung Act) that prescribes benefit payments to victims and survivors and dependents.

Brown lung disease: A disease of the lungs caused by excessive inhalation of dust. The disease is in the pneumoconiosis family and frequently afflicts textile workers.

Byssinosis: A disease of the lungs caused by excessive inhalation of cotton, flax or hemp dust. It afflicts mill workers and takes several years of exposure before manifestations are noticed. It can progress to chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Silicosis: A disease of the lungs caused by the inhalation of silica dust. Silicosis is a common condition among coal miners.

All states require employers to pay benefits to employees with injuries or illnesses arising out of and in the course of employment (except for designated categories of employees). Benefits are scheduled in the laws, which also generally prohibit an employee from suing the employer for common law damages. Workers' compensation laws ensure that employees receive adequate medical treatment and at least some compensation for injuries suffered on the job; at the same time, the liability of employers is limited. The basic categories of benefits are medical care, partial reimbursement for income lost due to disability, rehabilitation therapy if required, and survivors' benefits in case of an employee's death.

For all illness contracted as a result of employment-related exposures and conditions, a special insurance coverage for these situations are provided through workers compensation.

Condition surrounding a work environment that increases the probability of death, illness, or disability to a worker. This type of hazard is considered when evaluating an application for insurance.

An illness caused by exposure to adverse conditions inherent in an individual's occupation, frequently over a long period. Workers' compensation provides coverage for occupational diseases.

The condition surrounding a work environment that increases the probability of death, disability, or illness to a worker is known as Occupational hazard. This class of hazard is considered when writing Workers' Compensation insurance or determining which underwriting classification to select for life or health insurance.

If mesothelioma is contacted due to the exposure to asbestos while working with it, such a person can surely claim compensation. Even the federal government will help such a person through benefits and enforce certain rules to such employers to pay up the compensation.

The main benefit to such sick persons ultimately has to come from the employers. Even the Government contributes a few benefits to them. If some people die of mesothelioma, compensation can be claimed by their relatives.