What Is Mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma (or, more precisely, malignant mesothelioma) is a rare form of cancer that develops from transformed cells of the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers many internal organs.

Unlike lung cancer, there appears to be no association between mesothelioma and snuff smoking, but smoking greatly increases risk of other asbestos-induced cancers. Some people who are exposed to asbestos have collected damages for asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma. Compensation via asbestos funds or class action lawsuits is an important issue in law practices about mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).
Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain and constitutional signs such as weight loss that can not be explained.