Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma cancer involves mesothelial tissues of body organs usually lungs or abdominal. It is often caused by exposure to asbestos. However, there are 30-50% of patients without any history of asbestos exposure. People with very little asbestos exposure could also be at risk of mesothelioma cancer although most patients with malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos related diseases likely had prolonged exposure to asbestos. A person exposed to asbestos could develop mesothelioma even after 50 years of exposure.

Asbestos Cancer Mesothelioma

Asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is very difficult to assess and diagnose consistently. The time between exposure and the onset of the disease, and the rate of progression of malignant mesothelioma, make diagnosis very difficult.

Prior to 1975 asbestos fibers were commonly used. Several diseases are associated with exposure to asbestos. They include: malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural effusion, pleural plaques and thickening, and lung cancer. Even if you do not direclty work in the industry that uses asbestos, you can get exposed if someone in your family works with asbestos and can carry asbestos fibers home on their clothing, body or hair.

The odds of developing lung cancer from smoking also increases significantly from exposure to asbestos. It is always better to check with a mesothelioma attorney if you or anyone you know have lung cancer and also worked in an environment with exposure to asbestos.