Mesothelioma definition
Mesothelioma is an unusual cancer form and over 2,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States alone each year. The disease is usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos (almost 80 percent), which affects the pleura, a sac which surrounds the lungs, the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the pericardium, a sac that surrounds the heart.
Though mesothelioma is a relatively rare type of cancer, it is difficult to diagnose and treat. Most cases are caused by exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals that occur naturally and was used in a variety of industries. Legislation against the use of asbestos in buildings was not passed until the 1970's, after legions of bulding workers had been exposed to the material for decades.
Smoking alone has not been shown to increase the risk of mesothelioma but smoking in conjunction with exposure to asbestos does increase risk. Symptoms may not appear until three or four decades after exposure to asbestos and the disease is three times more common in men than in women. The heavier the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of mesothelioma, although not everyone exposed is afflicted with the cancer.
Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer will attempt to present the latest news and information that will help you understand the disease; its causes, effects and how you can best cope with it.
Written on October 5, 2005
