Mesothelioma Cancer Help Center
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What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Malignant cells develop in the protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. It’s most common site is the pleura the outer lining of the lungs. It can also develop in the peritoneum the lining of the abdominal cavity of the sack that surrounds the heart.
Most who develop this disease have worked around asbestos particles and have inhaled them or have been exposed in some other way, such as washing clothes or a fellow human being in the family. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.
Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Although uncommon, mesothelioma is no longer considered rare. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is particularly difficult to diagnose and one that does not respond well to therapy.
History of Mesothelioma
The first lawsuit against manufacturers of asbestos was brought in 1929. The parties involved in the lawsuit, agreed to not pursue further cases. It was not until 1960 that an article published by Wagner el al first officially called mesothelioma a disease arising from the exposure to asbestos.
In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of asbestos were published in story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978 The west Australia Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.
What is asbestos cancer?
Asbestos cancer is a general term for a variety of cancers caused by exposure to asbestos. Malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the membranes that line the chest (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), is nearly always attributable asbestos exposure. Lung cancer may also be asbestos related.
Mesothelioma is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a lung cancer because almost two-thirds of the diagnosed cases affect the pleural lining, which predominantly surrounds the lungs. In actuality, this cancer resides outside the lungs, but may affect their functioning, as it is the job of the pleural lining to permit movement between the lungs, diaphragm and other organs as they function (think of the expansion and contraction of the lungs as the breath in and expel air).
