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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Mesothelioma? How do
you get Mesothelioma?
"Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium)
is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal
and divide without control or order. They can invade and
damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also
metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts
of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura
or peritoneum."
-
National Cancer Institute
 Mesothelioma
is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to
asbestos. Mesothelioma victims have either inhaled or
swallowed asbestos fibers which then travel through the lung
and become lodged in the pleura (the thin, saran wrap-type
membrane lining the lungs). Mesothelioma can also develop in
the abdominal (peritoneal) area of the body. Each year 2,500
to 4,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to
asbestos. Even
small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can cause
injuries.
Exposure to asbestos fibers usually occurs in at-risk
workplace environments. Those at the highest risk for
developing mesothelioma include workers handling or installing
insulation, roofers, electricians, miners, and others (more
about occupational hazards).
Asbestos fibers are so
toxic, that industrial and trade worker’s families may be
exposed to mesothelioma through particles that cling to the
worker’s clothing, shoes, skin and hair. This type of “second-hand”
exposure to asbestos is known as Para occupational exposure.
Exposure to asbestos can also occur in the home. Asbestos
exposure in the home could have
occurred when renovation or repair work was performed. The
majority of building products manufactured today do not
contain asbestos, however those frequently used prior to 1970
do carry exposure risks. Products such as joint compounds,
wallboards, gaskets, fireproofing, pipe covering, cements,
floor tiles, ceiling tiles and boiler insulation often
contained asbestos. If these products were mixed, grinded,
cut, sawed, sprayed, removed or otherwise manipulated, banged
or damaged, they could have released significant asbestos
fibers into your home. The inhalation of these airborne fibers
can create the risk of developing mesothelioma, even 15-30
years later.
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