Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant Pleural mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity or the lining around the heart.Malignant Peural mesothelioma is cancer which is found in the lining of the chest.When pleural mesothelioma cancer spreads, the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal. These malignant cells begin to divide and spread without order and can begin to affect organs and tissues in the immediate area. This often leads to complications in the surrounding organs. The National Institute of Cancer cites working with asbestos as the major risk factor for pleural mesothelioma. While almost 80 percent of those that have mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos, there are still reported cases where there is no known exposure. Smoking alone has not been shown to increase the risk of mesothelioma but smoking in conjunction with asbestos exposure does increase risk. The heavier the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of pleural mesothelioma, although not everyone exposed is afflicted with the cancer.Not all workers exposed to asbestos will develop diseases related to their asbestos exposure. In fact, many will experience no ill effects. Asbestos that is bonded into finished products such as walls, tiles, and pipes poses no risk to health as long as it is not damaged or disturbed (for example, by sawing or drilling) in such a way as to release fibers into the air.Mesothelioma research shows that when asbestos particles are set free and inhaled, however, exposed individuals are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Once these fibers work their way into body tissues, they may stay there indefinitely. The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases varies with the type of industry in which the exposure occurred and with the extent of the exposure. In addition, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated with different health risks.