What is Mesothelioma?
Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos.
Symptoms may include shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. Doctors can confirm the diagnosis with a biopsy of the tissue in the region.
After reviewing the biopsy results, the physician can offer a prognosis for recovery or treatment. That prognosis will be dependent upon the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient’s age.
About Asbestos
Exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring, fibrous, toxic mineral once commonly used as insulation and contained in many products – such as chemical filters and brake linings – has been determined to cause the rare and deadly lung cancer mesothelioma. When inhaled, asbestos fibers become embedded in the lungs, damaging delicate tissue, restricting breathing, and generating scar tissue growth.