Lung mesothelioma is a lethal medical situation arising from the infection of mesothelium by asbestos fibers. It is a rare form of cancer that affects people who had been in continuous contact with asbestos, either at homes or workplace. Medical science describes the disease as a rare cancerous growth affecting the mesothelial tissues that surrounds our vital organs as a protective cover. Three different types of this cancer, the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial, have been identified and named according to the areas they inhabit.

Mesothelium is the lining of our vital organs that only protects them, but also aids their proper functioning in an indirect way. Asbestos particles can cause serious abnormality in the functioning of the mesothelium cells. The disease is unique in that it takes years and years for the disease to come out and this factor alone is a limiting aspect in timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Some people may confuse lung cancer and lung mesothelioma, but the two are definitely different from one another. While the former affects the lung walls from inside, the latter destroys the protective lining. The prognosis of the disease is not too happy. It has been observed that most of the patients diagnosed with this cancer never complete two more years. The cancer is usually classified into four stages depending on the state of the infection. Even though timely detection has been instrumental in many patients living to tell their tale, most patients die within a handful of years because the habit of the cancer to attack at the most inopportune moment.

Exposure to asbestos is the villain in the case. The silicate mineral was considered a wonder material earlier due to its multifaceted properties like resistance to heat and electric shock, capability to withstand chemical reactions etc and was used to manufacture a wide range of products like insulation products, construction material etc. But workers who inhaled the toxic air containing asbestos suffered and are suffering the adverse erects of asbestos exposure.

The emphasis these days is to employ proper precautions while handing the material and to provide ample compensation to those who suffered for no fault of theirs. In addition, experiments and field trials are on to find better cure for lung mesothelioma because cure from existing therapies have not been at desired levels.