Cancer and Mesothelioma

The most common form of cancer caused by asbestos is mesothelioma, a rare cancer that is very rarely cured. The only proven cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

An estimated 20 to 30 percent of people diagnosed with mesothelioma have no knowledge of prior exposure to asbestos. But the prior popularity of asbestos as a building material may shed some light on a person's ability to identify the source of their exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma typically attacks the thin membranous lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, known as the mesothelium. It is estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are reported each year. The symptoms of mesothelioma typically arise 20 to 50 years after exposure, which makes it difficult to diagnose the countless cases lying dormant across the country. For more information about mesothelioma