What is Mesothelioma? The National Cancer Institute states that: "Malignant
mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which
cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest
(the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the
peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium)."
What is peritoneal mesothelioma? Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of
the abdominal cavity. This form of cancer makes up approximately
one-fifth to one-third of the total number of mesothelioma cases
diagnosed. More on
peritoneal mesothelioma.
How do you get Mesothelioma? Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on
jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others have been exposed to
asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it.
More about the different ways in which people have been
exposed to
asbestos.
How much exposure does it take to get the disease? An exposure of as little as one or two months can
result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later.
Mesothelioma
cause.
How long does it take after exposure for the disease
to show up? People exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now
being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency
period of asbestos disease.
What is the prognosis for mesothelioma? Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often
depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is
treated. Click on
Treatment
Options to find out more about traditional and new
approaches.
Is there any promising research or are there
promising drugs for mesothelioma? Research is being conducted at various cancer centers
all over the United States as well as by pharmaceutical
companies. To find more about these studies, click on
Clinical
Trials. To read abstracts of the latest journal articles on
mesothelioma research and to access these articles, click on
Medical
Journal Articles; or
Mesothelioma
News for news articles. A recent study of
Alimta
showed patients living much longer with Alitma than other
chemotherapy drugs.
Where can I find information on living with
mesothelioma? Mesothelioma
Aid is a good website for resource for families dealing with
mesothelioma. It includes advice and referrals to other
resources for coping with cancer, caregiving, financial
challenges, and support groups. Alternatively, contact us here
at Mesothelioma Web for help finding resouces for living with
this disease.
What kinds of other resources are available for
people with mesothelioma? There are numerous cancer web sites, some specific to
mesothelioma. Because they are often difficult to locate, we
have listed some relevant medical sites under
Leading
Cancer Links. We are always on the lookout for more so check
our site often.
