Mesothelioma is the primary asbestos cancer. That is to say, exposure to asbestos through inhalation in the lungs can cause many different forms of cancer including mesothelioma.

Asbestos causes cancers such as mesothelioma when asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs where they become embedded. Cells become abnormal and begin to divide without control or order i.e. become cancerous. In addition to the lung cells, they can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs as they spread to other parts of the body.

Asbestos Cancer: Basic Facts

About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year.

Mesothelioma cancer occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in women or men at any age.

A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases i.e. Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma cancer.

Smoking cigarettes increases the chance of developing asbestos-related lung cancer.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven.

Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.

If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems.

In addition to mesothelioma cancer, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.