One of the most deadly types of cancer is mesothelioma. The most common form of mesothelioma affects the lining of the lung. More than two thousand cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed each year.
Malignant mesothelioma affects the membranes of certain large cavities in the body. Cancer that occurs in the mesothelium tissue is called mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is most common in the pleura, or the lining surrounding the lung, but it also develops in the perdicardium, in the peritoneum and in the tunica vaginalis testis
Learn about mesothelioma
All mesotheliomas are considered malignant. Most malignant mesotheliomas are associated with a previous exposure to fibrous minerals, like asbestos. There is indisputable evidence of the role of asbestos fibers in the development of malignant mesothelioma. Not everyone who is exposed to asbestos fibers experiences mesothelioma symptoms and develops this fatal form of cancer, so other factors may also be involved.
Although mesothelioma is rare, it is a deadly disease. It is often in the advanced stages when it is detected, so the outlook for the patients is not as good as it is for the cancers that are detected earlier. Also, with no form of mesothelioma treatment found effective, most victims pass away two years after receiving their diagnosis.
Following are sources of information on mesothelioma: