Medical Symptoms and Facts

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is usually associated with exposure to a substance called asbestos. Asbestos is a group of minerals that are naturally found in the environment. These minerals have had many different uses in the past, including everything from cement compound to building insulation and even brake shoes and pads for cars. The use of asbestos in products such as these has been banned since the 1980’s. However, many sources of asbestos still remain in society today. This has led to a drastic increase in mesothelioma cases in recent years.

Why has mesothelioma become sucha prevalent disease recently you ask? Mesothelioma has only recently begun to be widely diagnosed for a number of reasons. Increased awareness about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma is one reason. Another reason we have seen a drastic increase in the number of mesothelioma cases is the fact that it may take as long as twenty to thirty years after asbestos exposure for cancerous mesothelioma cells to begin to develop. Since asbestos was widely used mostly in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, it stands to reason that most of the mesothelioma cases related to asbestos exposure then would just now be beginning to manifest themselves.

In mesothelioma, cancerous cells develop in the protective linings that cover most of the internal organs.The most common area for mesothelioma to develop is the outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity. This type of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma and is the most common form of mesothelioa diagnosed in patients. Another common area that mesothelioma develops in is the lining of the abdominal cavity.