Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the lungs. In addition to affecting the lungs, it can also result in complications that affect the heart and the abdomen. Every year, there are as many as 3,000 people diagnosed with mesothelioma. Men are four times more likely than women to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, and with the exception of benign mesothelioma all forms of the disease are terminal. There is no cure.
Patients who are diagnosed with the disease are expected to survive for less than a year in most cases, although there are other factors that can change the life expectancy of the patient.
This terminal cancer is often caused by exposure to asbestos which is inhaled or otherwise ingested. This leads to inflammation and infection. Asbestos is a naturally occurring but dangerous fiber that was often used by a large number of industries throughout the twentieth century. The dangers of asbestos become well known in the seventies, leading to a decline in its use. Unfortunately, it is still found in some buildings. More than thirty percent of the people who suffer from mesothelioma are veterans.
Types of Mesothelioma
There are five different types of mesothelioma that the medical world is aware of. One of them is benign, but the following four are terminal diseases.
Pleural Mesothelioma: This is the most common form of the disease, affecting seventy five percent of the people who are diagnosed with the disease. It forms in the lining of the lungs, which is referred to in the medical world as pleura.
