Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer

What you need to know

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in people that have either inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers.  These fibers travel through the body and become lodged in the lung or other parts of the body, resulting in cancer that can appear decades later. Most often these fibers lodge themselves in the outer lining of the lungs, known as the pleura, causing pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of this asbestos cancer.

With no known cure for the disease, patients often face treatments aimed at managing the symptoms and improving their quality of life.  Once patients near their end of life, doctors often shift to palliative care which is intended to control pain, stop bleeding, relieve pressure, and to allow patients to be at home with their loved ones.

Mesothelioma is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year, and about that many victims also die from the disease each year.