What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is an uncommon type cancer which is caused primarily by the inhalation of hazardous airborne asbestos fibers. This malignant cancer harms the mesothilium, a sac-like membrane that covers and protects the internal organs of our body including the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. So, this disease derives its name from this membrane. This membrane is divided into two different protective layers of cells: the visceral (the layer directly surrounding the organ) and the parietal (a sac around the body cavity). Between the two layers of the membrane, the cells generate lubricating fluid, allowing easy movement of the lungs and heart within the chest cavity.
Mesothelium tissue bounds the male internal reproductive organs and wraps the internal reproductive organs in women as well. When someone develops mesothelioma, the mesothelium cells turn out to be abnormal and divide uncontrollably and randomly. They can spread and cause damage to nearby tissues and organs. Most of the time, mesothelioma is seen in the thoracic cavity (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma).
Mesothelioma symptoms tend to develop little by little and earlier symptoms are frequently confused for diseases which are more amenable to treatment. Averagely speaking, mesothelioma can takes anywhere from 20 to 50 years to develop. This explains the fact that older individuals are usually the victims. Nevertheless, recent cases involving September 11th World Trade Center clean-up crews and first responders explain that high intensity of asbestos is capable to make mesothelioma develop much more quickly. A few WTC workers have already died due to mesothelioma.