Define Mesothelioma

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is defined as a rare malignant cancer found in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a protective sac which covers majority of the body's internal organs. The cancerous cells found in the mesothelium is often times found in most individuals who worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos dust particles.

To Successfully define mesothelioma, asbestos has to be taken into consideration. This is so as about 70-80 percent of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma had some form of exposure or contact with asbestos. However, mesothelioma has also been reported in individuals with no know exposure to asbestos.

To further clarify what asbestos is, it is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that may be separated into thin threads and woven. Hence, asbestos is found in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, floor products and the list goes on.

Due to the fact that mesothelioma cancer is a by product of asbestos; to define mesothelioma without mentioning asbestos is almost impossible.