Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium. It is normally caused by exposure to asbestos.

Where it’s found (In the body)
The most common place where mesothelioma is found is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart), or the tunica virginals (a sac that surrounds the testis).

How YOU can get it

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos and glass particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos or glass can put a person at risk! for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no connection between mesothelioma and smoking, but SMOKING greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers.

Symptoms

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, coughing or pain in the chest and the general symptoms such as weight loss. This is due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall)

Treatment

The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is