• Overview
• Types
• Diagnosis
• Treatment Options
• Alternative Treatments
• Legal Options

• Overview
• Exposure
• Related Ailments

Welcome to the Mesothelioma Cancer Center

Mesotheileoma. Over the past several years, this deadly cancer has moved from the shadows and courtrooms into the public eye. Even so, mesotheileoma remains a mystery disease to many people. Far too many people only learn about this variation of cancer when it strikes them or a loved one. If you’ve just learned that you or a loved one has mesotheileoma, you’re bound to have questions and concerns about what it is, how you got it and what you can do about it. That’s why we’re here.

Our aim is to provide answers to your questions about mesotheileoma and about asbestos, the only known cause of this deadly disease. We provide information about the symptoms of mesotheileoma, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated. We also offer information to help you understand what causes mesotheileoma, how you can find out more about the causes of your mesotheileoma and what to expect for mesotheileoma treatments.

In addition to the information on mesotheileoma itself, we provide as much information as possible about asbestos and asbestos exposure. This information about asbestos can help you determine the risk that you or a loved one may have been exposed to asbestos at a job or work site, a construction site or in your home or a public building.

Who should be concerned about mesotheileoma?

We are all exposed to asbestos during our lives, but most people do not develop mesotheileoma or asbestosis. While it appears to be possible to develop mesotheileoma after only a brief exposure to asbestos fibers, most people who are diagnosed with mesotheileoma worked or lived in close, frequent contact with asbestos over a long period of time. There are professions and jobs that carry a high risk of asbestos exposure, especially before 1980, when asbestos was outlawed for many of its uses. At the top of the list of high-risk occupations for asbestos exposure are construction workers, shipbuilders, brake mechanics and laborers in plants where asbestos was used in manufacturing. Others who may be at risk of developing mesotheileoma are spouses, children and household members of those who worked with and around asbestos and may have suffered regular secondhand exposure to asbestos. There are other occupations that don’t come immediately to mind. Learn more about asbestos exposure in our asbestos pages.

Recent Asbestos Exposure

More recently, there have been many cases of people exposed to asbestos when old buildings, pipes and other infrastructure fails. When the World Trade Center was attacked, for instance, it’s been estimated that hundreds of tons of asbestos fibers were released into the air. The improper demolition of older buildings can release asbestos fibers into the air, as can mishaps like broken water mains and old heating and plumbing pipes. Everyone should know and understand the hazards of exposure to asbestos, and protect themselves from the risk of mesotheileoma.

What should you do if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesotheileoma?

Adjusting to a diagnosis of mesotheileoma takes some time, but time is often the one thing that is in short supply for the family and the mesotheileoma victim. It’s important to understand the current and emerging treatment options for patients with mesotheileoma. In addition to the traditional palliative treatments that have been used for years for this cruel cancer, there may be clinical trials and experimental treatment methods that could be tried. There are a number of groups around the country that were created by mesotheileoma victims and their families to assist others who are coming to grips with a difficult diagnosis.

Besides the health decisions that must be made, families often must deal with the high costs of treating mesotheileoma and related diseases. Health insurance may not provide coverage for many needs, and the costs for home care, chemotherapy and other treatments can be astronomical. Because mesotheileoma could have been prevented if the companies that used the material had informed their workers of the dangers and provided them with appropriate safety equipment, many mesotheileoma victims have sued the companies that were responsible for their exposure to asbestos. Some companies have set up trust funds to cover expenses arising from mesotheileoma that resulted from their products. Others are determined to fight each case in court, or to settle each case of mesotheileoma on its own merits. Because of the complexities and the legal issues involved, many people with mesotheileoma and their families choose to consult a lawyer experienced in handling mesotheileoma and asbestos exposure cases to explore their legal options for compensation.