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Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs. In less common cases, the heart and abdomen can also be affected by mesothelioma cancer. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States, comprising around 3 percent of all cancer diagnoses. This cancer occurs about four times more frequently in men than in women and all forms of mesothelioma, except for benign mesothelioma, are terminal since no cure has been discovered.

The life expectancy for mesothelioma patients is generally reported as less than one year following diagnosis. However, a patient’s prognosis is affected by several factors, including how early the cancer is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated.

Causes
Mesothelioma is primarily caused by asbestos exposure, which occurs when asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested and become lodged in human tissue, causing inflammation or infection. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous substance that was once widely used in the 20th century in a number of different industries.

When the public became aware of the hazards associated with the mineral, warnings were issued in the mid-1970s and use of the product began to decline. More than 30 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans. Please visit the page on asbestos for additional information about the mineral.

Types of Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, with around 75 percent of cases being pleural in origin.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Comprising approximately 20 percent of mesothelioma cases, this form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. Approximately 5 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial.

Testicular Mesothelioma: Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles and is the rarest form of the cancer.