What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a pleural cancer, or a cancer of the pleura – the lining of the lungs. It attacks this lining and grows tumors between the lining and the lung itself. As the tumors grow, breathing is restricted and people also generally experience chest pain. When the tumors are small no one notices this, but by the time they realize that there is a problem, the mesothelioma is often far advanced. The disease comes from exposure to asbestos, and it doesn’t have to be direct exposure. People who worked with asbestos in the past are at the greatest risk, but spouse and children of these workers could have been exposed, too. Fibers from the asbestos could have come home on the worker’s hair, clothing, and skin and been inhaled by the family.

In addition, there are many buildings and homes where there is still asbestos being used. It was never removed, and removal is often costly. Some people don’t even know it’s there, so they don’t make any effort to have it removed or to try to keep from breathing it. Then, 20 to 50 years later, these people are getting sick and not understanding why. Since they didn’t work with asbestos directly, getting sick with mesothelioma doesn’t make sense to them. Sometimes, the actual asbestos exposure can’t be proven, but what ultimately matters to the person with the disease is getting prompt and thorough treatment.