Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells around the heart, lungs or abdominal organs. The most common type of mesothelioma is the one which affects the pleura, the thin membrane between the lungs and the chest cavity. This type of the disease is known as Pleural Mesothelioma, and sufferers can experience symptoms which include: shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, chest pains, weight loss, and trouble swallowing.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is another form of this disease but is not as common as Pleural Mesothelioma. This type of the disease affects the peritoneum membrane of the abdomen. These tumors can also be found in the stomach and abdominal organs. Sufferers of Peritoneal Mesothelioma can experience symptoms which include: stomach pains and abdominal swelling, nausea, loss if appetite, vomiting, bowel obstruction, and blood clotting abnormalities.

The third and the rarest type of mesothelioma is Pericardial Mesothelioma, which affects the tissue and cavity surrounding the heart. Patients of this type of the disease may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, persistent coughing and palpitations.

Mesothelioma can be both malignant and benign in nature, although the most common is the malignant form. The cancerous cells can spread quickly and the life-expectancy of sufferers is not very long. Life expectancy can be between four months and two years, with the average survival rate being four months to one year following the onset of symptoms. With clinical trials being conducted on a regular basis, it is hoped that a treatment will be found that can extend the life expectancy of sufferers and perhaps even stop this disease from being life-threatening. However, this may still be a long way off.

Mesothelioma results from exposure to asbestos, a substance which was used for many years as a form of thermal insulation. Although asbestos has been a known cause of cancer since the 1920s, it is still present in many places, and was very widely used until the mid 1970s. The people at maximum risk are those who have had regular exposure to asbestos. Even those who have regular contact with a person who works with asbestos must be careful. The fibres can be picked up when touching or washing their clothes or in a variety of other ways.

The latency period for mesothelioma is alarmingly long, and the manifestation of symptoms can take many years from the actual exposure to asbestos - usually 35-40 years. Therefore, many people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma today have not worked with or been exposed to asbestos for 35 years or more. The fact that the disease does not present itself during the time of working with this fibre does not mean in any way that the risk factor is not present and high risk workers must be constantly vigilant and fully aware of the possible symptoms.

Mesothelioma is far more common in men than in women, and also in men between the ages of sixty and seventy than in younger men. People who have worked with asbestos on a regular basis - and even those who have had only moderate exposure to asbestos - should always be vigilant and seek assistance should any of the typical symptoms begin to manifest. However, the difficulty here is that the symptoms of mesothelioma can also be attributed to a variety of more common ailments and diseases, so diagnosis of the disease can be difficult even for experienced GPs. Anyone that has worked with asbestos is advised to inform their doctor of this so that a speedier diagnosis can be made should these symptoms arise.

There are currently several ways in which mesothelioma patients are treated: the most common forms of treatment include surgery, to remove the affected area (or part of it); chemotherapy, to kill off the affected cells through the use of drugs; and radiotherapy, used to concentrate radiation on the affected cells to kill them off. There are also many ways in which your GP may test you for signs of the disease, which may include: scans and x-rays, fluid testing, and tissue biopsies.

National Cancer Institute research shows that around 3000 cases of malignant mesothelioma are brought to light each year in the United States, and this figure is on the increase.