Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that is found in the sac lining of the chest, covering areas around the lungs and inside the ribs. The only known cause to this disease is exposure to asbestos. Due to the latency effect of this cancer, this exposure is likely to have taken place 20 or more years ago. This type of mesothelioma is the most prevalent and is found in over 70% of malignant mesothelioma cases. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:  pain in the lower back or the side of the chest shortness of breath a persistent cough difficulty swallowing food fever and sweating fatigue weight loss. One of the most common and specific symptoms of this cancer is the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and chest cavity. This generally causes shortness of breath, and requires a doctor to drain the fluid, called fine-needle aspiration, to make breathing easier and relieve chest pain. This symptom is more unique to mesothelioma, making it more likely that you may have the disease.