Mesothelioma Information

The first question that most people ask when diagnosed with mesothelioma is: "What is Mesothelioma?" Here we provide concise mesothelioma information that includes the definition of mesothelioma, its cause and history, treatment options, and other useful information.

Mesothelioma Definition

Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare cancer, which develops in the lining of an internal body organ, such as the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), or the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).

Less frequently, mesothelioma can also develop in other locations including the lining of the heart, or pericardium (pericardial mesothelioma), and in the lining of the ovaries and scrotum.

Mesothelioma is often used as shorthand for diffuse malignant mesothelioma. The word "diffuse" refers to the spread-out quality of mesothelioma, which presents as "sheets" of malignant cells.

Cause of Mesothelioma

While mesothelioma is a rare malignancy in the general population, it is commonly found in individuals who have had asbestos exposure in the workplace. In fact, in the United States, asbestos is the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma. There are approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States each year. By comparison, approximately 160,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year.

History of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma began to be identified among asbestos workers and associated with asbestos exposure in the workplace in the 1940s. By that time, there were large volumes of information establishing that asbestos caused scarring in the lungs known as "asbestosis" and information already linking asbestos to lung cancer. Epidemiology studies conducted in the 1960s definitively established asbestos as the cause of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatment & Cure

Unfortunately, most traditional treatments for cancer are less effective in mesothelioma treatment. However, just as some mesothelioma clinical trials, they may work to slow the effects of the cancer, but there is no known cure for mesothelioma at this time.

Traditionally, treatment for the disease involved segregation of the sheets of diseased cells, but new mesothelioma treatment options are focused on less obtrusive methods.

Mesothelioma Compensation

When answering the question "What is Mesothelioma?", most mesothelioma doctors will give you the medical fact that the disease is caused by asbestos and there is no known cure at this time. However, while answering the same question, most mesothelioma attorneys will tell you that it is a preventable disease; it is a disease caused by asbestos; and it has been caused by corporations that failed to warn of the dangers of asbestos. Had the asbestos manufacturers warned workers about the hazards of asbestos, then people could have taken steps to protect themselves.

A mesothelioma lawsuit affords victims of this disease the opportunity to obtain financial compensation for damages including pain and suffering, and money spent on both traditional mesothelioma treatments and clinical trials. A mesothelioma lawsuit also serves to hold accountable the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure - in the workplace or home environment.

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