Mesothelioma is a sort of cancer that’s nearly always caused by exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protecting lining that covers almost all of the body’s internal organs. Its commonest site is the pleura ( outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall ), but it might also happen in the peritoneum ( the liner of the abdominal cavity ), the heart, the pericardium ( a sac that surrounds the heart ) or tunica vaginalis.

When people inhale or ingest asbestos fiber floating in the air mesothelioma exposure takes place. Asbestos being a naturally occurring useful product, is used for various products like construction materials, cement, insulation equipment etc. Before put to industrial use, asbestos is made into fine threads, which are then woven together. The material was greatly in use during the Second World War for ship building and other war period activities. The extensive use of asbestos continued till the government banned its use after discovering the relationship between asbestos exposure and contraction of Mesothelioma.

Even though asbestos is highly beneficial it has a fatal drawback, ie it infects the protective membrane causing cancer. When the asbestos particles are inhaled it results in cancerous growth in mesothelium, the protective lining. It may take a long duration, even more than fifty years, for the disease to become noticeable through the symptoms. Many patients die from mesothelioma exposure due to this delay. The disease becomes so widespread before the cancer is detected.

Many thousands have fallen victims of mesothelioma exposure so far. People who are constantly at the risk of contracting mesothelioma are those who are living near the places the mining is done, who are working in factories where asbestos is used and the family members who come into contact with the particles through cloths or hair of the workers. Wearing protective masks, taking a shower and changing cloths before leaving the work place are some of the effective measures for prevention. But there are many hapless victims who have already become victims of the disease before the curbs and preventive measures were undertaken strictly. The malicious disease has resulted in the death of many and there are many who prolong their lives depending on vigorous treatment procedures.

Mesothelioma exposure causes three types of cancer, typically, pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. The pleural variety is the most common while the pericardial cancer is the rarest but the most deadly. Since the prognosis of mesothelioma is not very encouraging, it is exceedingly essential that every person who has come under asbestos exposure at some point of time undergo proper medical checkups to detect any harmful growth in the mesothelium.