Some mesotheliomas form a mass (tumour), while others grow along the mesothelium and form a thick covering. It arises in the mesothelial surfaces of tissues in the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), although it can also affect the lining of the tummy (peritoneal mesothelioma), heart or testicles.
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals that occur naturally as bundles of tiny fibers.
The majority of asbestos fibers are either amphibole (sharp, rod-like) or serpentine. The serpentine fibers make up 90% of the type seen in the US and are considered less carcinogenic than the amphibole type. These fibers are typically found in brake linings, ship building, cement, and ceiling and pool tiles.
These tiny fibers can easily get in the lungs. Fibers that stay in the lungs can travel to the ends of the small airways and enter the pleural lining of the lung and chest wall. These fibers can then injure the cells of the pleura, and, over time, cause mesothelioma.
Mesotheliomas related to asbestos exposure take a long time to develop. The time between the first asbestos exposure and diagnosis of mesothelioma is usually between 20 and 50 years.
Many of the early symptoms of mesothelioma are the same as those likely to be caused by other problems, so at first people may ignore them or mistake them for common, minor ailments. Most people with mesothelioma have symptoms for at least a few months before they are diagnosed.
Mesothelioma affects mainly older men aged 60–70 years. The prominent symptoms that could last from months to 1–2 years before diagnosis are chest pain and shortness of breath, affecting more than half the patients, while constitutional symptoms (fever, weight loss and fatigue) are less commonly observed.
Mesothelioma cancer
