Location

• The innermost lining of the pleural cavities that house the lungs (as well as most of the body's organs) are lined with a very moist and viscous membrane of mesothelium cells, a combination of epithelial cells and connective tissue. Other body cavities have a large concentration of these cells, such as the peritoneum, which lines the abdominal cavity, the tunica vaginalis that covers the testes in males, and the pericardium, the protective sac that encases the heart.
  
  

Mesothelioma

• Malignant tumors develop in any of the linings of the areas described in Section 1, resulting in the cancerous condition of mesthelioma. The tumors are attributed to prolonged exposure to the fire retardant chemical asbestos, a material at one time commonly found in nearly every public building. Exposure comes in the form of individuals who have breathed in tiny asbestos particles over the course of time, either by directly working with asbestos or by breathing in the particles secondhand. Although mesothelioma can occur in any of the above stated areas, it is prevalent in the pleural cavities.
  
  

Symptoms

• Unlike some other forms of cancer, mesothelioma's symptoms become prevalent over the course of time, usually 20 to 50 years, depending on the duration of exposure. Breathing difficulties, chronic cough and chest pain are all attributed to accumulation of the fluid in the chest (or abdominal) cavity. Anemia, chronic fever, fatigue, and hemoptysis (coughing up blood) have been reported by patients. In more severe cases, abnormal weight loss and bowel obstruction can occur in those diagnosed with peritoneum mesothelioma.
  
  

Diagnosis/Prognosis

• Due to the type of symptoms and the location of the tissues, a proper diagnosis isn't easy. Typical chest X-rays, lung function tests (like forced exhalation), CT scans and MRIs are all commonly used to detect the abnormal cells. If fluid is present in a cavity, a draining procedure (tapping) is often the next step. A thorascopy or a laproscopy could then be used to take a biopsy (tissue sample) for further examination. The usual cancer treatment options such as chemotherapy, surgical tumor removal, and radiation treatment have little success, as most patients die within a year following treatment, although a strict combination of these joined treatments have fared better.
  
  

Legal Troubles

• The legal battle over mesothelioma continues. Millions of dollars have been paid to families of victims of the disease, as lawsuits concerning asbestos have been ongoing for over 100 years. The court cases have been exhaustive and have even been heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, as the United States pushes toward legislation that protects companies against lawsuits but still manages to compensate victims. It is estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 new cases are diagnosed with the disease annually.