About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs (pleura), or around the abdominal organs (peritoneum).

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Click here for more on the composition of asbestos and how workers get mesothelioma.

Millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust, including many of the more than 4 million workers in the shipyards in the peak years of World War II production. Click here for more on mesothelioma statistics.

While risk to workers increases with heavier and longer exposure to asbestos, it has been shown that even short periods of exposure can lead to mesothelioma. Often a period of 20 years or more elapses between asbestos exposure and development of mesothelioma. There are documented cases of people who worked with asbestos for a few months, only to develop mesothelioma years later. There are also cases of children exposed to asbestos from their father's work clothing, and housewives exposed by doing their husbands' laundry, who developed mesothelioma 30 years later.

The respiratory effects of asbestos exposure are irreversible. Asbestos is a major health hazard, and its detrimental health effects have been known for years. Cigarette smoking does not contribute to this type of cancer.

With today's workplace safety regulations, the risk of exposure is substantially lower. However, mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases continue to crop up everyday as a result of past exposure which occurred many years ago.

Doctors treat mesothelioma with surgery (removal of the cancerous tissue), chemotherapy, or radiation.

The treatment chosen for any individual will depend on the stage of the disease, other medical problems, age and physical condition of the patient, and any prior treatment.

It is always in the patient's best interest to contact a specialist who is familiar with mesothelioma, and is well-versed on current treatments and techniques.

Mayo Clinic's page on mesothelioma

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