Mesothelioma disease is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a membrane surrounding most of the organs in the body including the lungs, heart and abdominal cavity. The mesothelium protects your organs, much like skin. It is composed of two layers one of which wraps around the organ and another which forms a sac. The mesothelium makes a fluid to lubricate the movement of heart when it beats or your lungs when you breathe.

Mesothelioma disease causes the cells of this protective layer to continue dividing, often forming a tumor outside the organ or even invading the organ itself. The cancer can also metastasize to other parts of the body. Mesothelioma of pleura refers to cancer surrounding the lungs and air sacs surrounding the lungs. Mesothelioma of the peritoneum refers to tumors around the abdomen. Mesothelioma of the pericardium infiltrates the sac that protects the heart.

This cancer is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, a natural fiber that was mined starting in the 1800's and used into the 1970's. Asbestos was considered useful because of its strong yet flexible fibers that could be used to make any number of construction tools. Asbestos can be found in old pipes, cement, insulation, brake pads and so many more common items.

What was unknown at the time is that asbestos particles are extremely dangerous when inhaled. Even a small amount inhaled can be very harmful in the long run. Bits of airborne asbestos floating around on construction sites, or any place where asbestos products were used, were inhaled by workers exposed to those materials. Unfortunately, the workers were not aware since the particles were invisible and odorless. Mesothelioma can develop anywhere from 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Men, of course, develop mesothelioma disease at higher rates than women, mostly because they held most of the jobs that had involved exposure to asbestos. Women, however, are equally susceptible to asbestos. Many women developed mesothelioma simply by shaking out their husbands' dirty clothing day in and day out. Today, the U.S. Occupational Services and Health Administration has strict limits on the amount of asbestos allowed in the workplace. Really, the only people now exposed to asbestos on a regular basis are those paid to remove it from old buildings and manufacturing sites.

Because asbestos is inhaled, mesothelioma of the pleura (the layer around the lungs) is the most common. It can cause many symptoms that might appear to be similar to lung cancer such as shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing. Because mesothelioma resembles several other ailments, a doctor may need to perform many tests before making a diagnosis. If you think you might have mesothelioma, telling your doctor about any prior exposure to asbestos is a good place to start.