When someone is afflicted with asbestos lung cancer, the mesothelium produces too much of this lubricating fluid, thereby damaging nearby tissues and organs. The most common form of mesothelioma is Pleural Mesothelioma, which begins in the Pleural or Peritoneum, the membrane that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs.

About 2,000 cases of Mesothelioma are reported yearly in United States. This is still a rare disease, although the reported incidents have increased in the past two decades. It has been observed and proven that heavy and long exposure to asbestos is the prime cause of Mesothelioma, which is why it is also known as asbestos lung cancer.

Asbestos is a group of minerals in strong, flexible and fibrous form. It is used in industrial products such as cement, brake linings, textiles, electrical insulation, flooring products, chemical filters, fireproofing materials and numerous other products.

This explains why most Mesothelioma patients work in construction sites, shipyards and manufacturing companies.  Small asbestos particles float in the air and are either inhaled or swallowed by workers or persons within the vicinity.

Not only are these workers potentially at risk from Mesothelioma, these people can also acquire asbestosis, a non-cancerous chronic lung sickness and other forms of cancer of the lungs, cancer of the larynx and kidney.  

It is possible to develop mesothelioma without exposure to asbestos.  In fact, only about 80 percent of mesothelioma victims have been exposed to asbestos.  Also, some patients were exposed for only a short period of time, but still developed the cancer years after the exposure.

Likewise, asbestos fibers that have been stuck in the hair strands of a factory worker can also risk the health of others whom he lives with. It is therefore important for workers exposed to asbestos to change their clothes and take a shower before leaving the workplace to prevent his family members from inhaling the asbestos particles and thus, from acquiring Mesothelioma.

The Mesothelioma cancer is slow-forming. That’s why the cancer develops so many years after the exposure to asbestos. Some develop the cancer fifty years after the exposure, which makes it hard to determine whether the person has Mesothelioma or not, especially when the patient has no knowledge of the exposure to asbestos.

Moreover, malignant Mesothelioma shows signs similar to those of other ailments such as pneumonia. Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma are also evident in other illnesses and include: shortness of breath, persistence of cough, weight loss and chest pain.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which affects the abdominal cavity, is indicated by swelling of and pain in the abdomen, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia, blood clotting abnormalities and fever.

Complete physical examination is needed to make sure to determine if a person has asbestos lung cancer or other form of mesothelioma.  This includes xrays of the body part where the symptoms are felt or seen, along with a CT scan and MRI.

To confirm Mesothelioma, a biopsy is also performed by a surgeon or oncologist (a physician who is specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of a cancer). The sample tissue removed by the surgeon is examined by the pathologist.

Once confirmed, the doctor then finds out the extent of the cancer, which is crucial to the treatment of Mesothelioma. Although malignant, if Mesothelioma is diagnosed early enough, the patient can still be treated. Most Mesothelioma patients undergo surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.