Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a tumor of the tissue that lines your lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs (the mesothelium). Mesothelioma usually starts in the lungs, but can also start in the abdomen or other organs. It can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer..

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but serious type of cancer. Most people who get it have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. After being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes at least 20 years for the disease to form.

It is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. Imaging tests and a biopsy will be used to make the diagnosis. Malignant mesothelioma is often found when it is advanced, which makes it harder to treat. Mesothelioma treatments are available, including surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy, but, for many people with mesothelioma, a cure is not possible.

In general, cancer begins when a series of genetic mutations occur within a cell, causing the cell to grow and multiply out of control. It is not clear what causes the initial genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma, though researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk. It is likely that cancers form because of an interaction between many factors, such as inherited conditions, the environment, other health conditions, and lifestyle choices. Most cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos.

See your doctor for shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain, or a persistent cough, especially with a history of asbestos exposure. Early evaluation gives more treatment options.