Mesothelioma is tumorous cancer that can be both malignant or benign. However, in more cases than not, mesothelioma is malignant. The malignant form of this cancer spreads quickly throughout the body and if not caught in time can cause death. Mesothelioma affects on average 2,000 to 3,000 people per year (Asbestos Resource Center).
Cause
The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a silicate material that was very popular in construction, especially in the 1970s. Asbestos is know for its fireproof abilities and was often used for building materials and electrical insulation. Asbestos has, over the last few decades, been proven as a highly carcinogenic (cancer causing) material. Mesothelioma has a longer gestation period than most cancers, meaning that many people who worked with asbestos throughout the decades are only now seeing the hazardous effects of the product.
Types
There are three main types of mesothelioma. Epithelioid affects the internal surfaces of the body, especially the tissues covering your internal organs. The sarcomatoid version affects your support tissue such as bone, fat, cartilage and muscle. The biphasic form affects both your internal surface tissue as well as your supportive tissues.
Origin
Mesothelioma can originate from two areas of the body, the chest cavity, and the abdomen. The cancer that originates from the chest cavity is referred to as pleural mesothelioma and the cancer that originates from the abdomen is referred to as peritoneal mesothelioma. In rare circumstances the cancer will develop around the heart first and is referred to as pericardial mesothelioma.
