Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that typically affects the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can develop in the membrane that lines the lungs, called the mesothelium.
Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States, comprising around 3 percent of all cancer diagnoses. This cancer occurs about four times more frequently in men than in women and all forms of mesothelioma, except for benign mesothelioma, are invariably fatal.

The life expectancy for mesothelioma patients is generally reported as less than one year following diagnosis, however a patient’s prognosis is affected by numerous factors including how early the cancer is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the mesothelium? causing cells in the membrane to become cancerous and divide rapidly. This causes the thickening of the membrane, fluid buildup and the formation of tumors. This can result in difficulty breathing, nausea, fatigue and a myriad of other concerns.