Mesothelioma
Introduction
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of some of the body's organs. It's usually linked to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma mainly affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), although it can also affect the lining of the tummy (peritoneal mesothelioma), heart or testicles. More than 2,600 people are diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK. Most cases are diagnosed in people aged 60-80 and men are affected more commonly than women. Unfortunately it's rarely possible to cure mesothelioma, although treatment can help control the symptoms. This page covers: Symptoms of mesothelioma What causes mesothelioma? How mesothelioma is diagnosed Treatments for mesothelioma Outlook for mesothelioma Links to more information
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on
Introduction
Mesothelioma is cancer of the lining that covers most of the body's organs. It's usually caused by asbestos exposure. Find out about the symptoms, causes, treatments and outlook.
Symptoms of mesothelioma
The symptoms of mesothelioma tend to develop gradually over time. They typically don't appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma in the lining of the lungsincl
What causes mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, agroup of minerals made of microscopic fibres thatused to be widely used in construction. These tiny fibres can easily get in the lungs,
Outlook for mesothelioma
Unfortunately the outlook for mesothelioma tends to be poor. This is because it doesn't usually cause any obvious symptoms until late on and it can progress quite quickly once it reaches this stage.
More information
If you'd like tofind outmore about mesothelioma, the following organisations can providefurther information, advice and support: Cancer Research UK Macmillan Cancer Support British Lung Founda
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products