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Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a very serious form of cancer affecting the smooth lining of the chest, lungs, heart and abdomen. Between 2,000 and 3,000 new cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year - and this number continues to rise.

Mesothelioma often goes undetected until symptoms appear - typically decades after the initial asbestos exposure. While advances are being made almost daily in mesothelioma research and treatments, at this time malignant mesothelioma is considered to be a terminal disease. As in all cancers, early diagnosis and treatment offer the best hope for a favorable outcome in a patient with malignant mesothelioma.

What Causes Mesothelioma?

Most cases of malignant mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral and a known carcinogen. Exposure usually occurs in the workplace, where particles floating in the air may easily be inhaled or swallowed, settling in the lungs or abdomen. Even brief exposure to small amounts of asbestos poses a risk. However, heavier exposure over a prolonged period of time significantly increases the risk of mesothelioma.

Who is At Risk for Malignant Mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the single greatest risk factor for malignant mesothelioma. Approximately 70 to 80% of all mesothelioma patients report exposure to asbestos in the workplace. There are many jobs that involve asbestos, but some examples are factory workers, construction workers, ship builders, asbestos miners and those who manufacture and install insulation.

The likelihood of being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma increases with age. The disease is rare in people under 55 years of age, and 75% of mesothelioma patients are over age 65. Men are five times more likely than women to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, and the disease is more common in white Americans than in African Americans.

To date, more than 27 million American workers have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Their family members are also believed to be at risk through contact with the workers' contaminated hair and clothing. In spite of government regulations aimed at industries that manufacture asbestos-containing products or whose workers encounter asbestos in the course of their labor, asbestos still exists in thousands of products and buildings in the U.S.