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Mesothelioma
A tumor of the mesothelium, often malignant and thought to be caused most commonly by the inhalation of asbestos particles. There are three main types of mesotheliomas. The most common (50%-70%) is the epithelioid type. This type has the best outlook. The other two types are less common. The treatment choices for all three are the same.
Between 2,000 and 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society. The disease is often advanced before symptoms appear, which may be 30 to 50 years after the initial exposure. It occurs in men more often than women, and largely in individuals over 55 years of age.
About three out of four mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. These are called pleural mesotheliomas. Another 10%-20% begin in the abdomen (peritoneal mesotheliomas). Those starting around the heart (pericardial) are very rare. This cancer can also start in the tissue around the testicles (testicular), but this is also very rare.
