Mesothelioma is a deadly and complicated cancer that's caused by the inhalation of asbestos.

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Did your work involve the possible inhalation of asbestos dust about 30-50 years ago ? Are you an elderly man (or woman) ? Do you have any of the following symptoms; shortness of breath, coughing, or chest pains ? You may possibly have mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that arises from inhaling asbestos dust or fibres. Why is it called mesothelioma, you may ask yourself ? There is a protective lining that covers most of our organs. This lining is called the mesothelium. When mesothelioma cancer strikes, malignant cells develop within this lining. It is most common in the pleura (outer linings of the lungs and chest cavity), hence the name pleural mesothelioma. Other places it may occur are the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) and the pericardium (lining that surrounds the heart). This leads to peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma respectively.

Mesothelioma has got absolutely nothing to do with smoking. However, if you smoked the Kent brand of cigarettes during the 1950's, there is a chance that you may have developed mesothelioma because of that. This is because Kent used asbestos in its filters.

Even if you were exposed to moderate amounts of asbestos dust and fibre, or came in contact with the clothes of somebody who worked with asbestos, you may still contract the disease. Even if you weren't exposed to asbestos you may still get diagnosed with mesothelioma, although this is rare. (The asbestos fibres embed themselves in lung tissue and cannot be removed naturally by the body's immune system). Mesothelioma cancer has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide, and inhalation of other fibrous silicates.

Mesothelioma is most often found in men, but women can also be diagnosed with it. Close to a third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal (actually just under a third - upto 20%).                                                        resources