What is Mesothelioma?
According to The National Cancer Institute, "Malignant mesothelioma is, a rare form of cancer, in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium)."Mesothelioma  also rarely affects the testis{testicular mesothelioma}

What is peritoneal mesothelioma?
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity. This form of cancer makes up approximately one-fifth to one-third of the total number of mesothelioma cases diagnosed. It is the second most common type of the cancer after Pleural mesothelioma.

How do you get malignant mesothelioma?
Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they where exposed to asbestos. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, mainly from the work clothes of their relatives working in asbestos related companies, often without knowing it.

How much exposure does it take to get the disease?
An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later.

How long does it take after exposure for the disease to show up?
People exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease. It takes about 40 -50 years post exposure for symptoms to appear.

What is the prognosis for malignant mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. Most patients with this type of cancer pass away within a year or two after diagnosis.

Is there any promising research or are there promising drugs for mesothelioma?
Research is being conducted at various cancer centers all over the United States as well as by pharmaceutical companies. A recent study of Alimta showed patients living much longer with Alitma than other chemotherapy drugs.

Mesothelioma victims should also educate themselves about mesothelioma and treatment options and look for available resources to make coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis easier.