In this Article

• What is mesothelioma?
• What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
• What causes mesothelioma?
• How much exposure does it take to get mesothelioma?
• How long does it take after exposure for mesothelioma to show up?
• How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
• What is the prognosis for mesothelioma?
• What is the treatment for mesothelioma?
• Is there any promising research or are there promising drugs for mesothelioma?
• What other kinds of information is available for people with mesothelioma?
• Mesothelioma At A Glance
• Mesothelioma Glossary
• Mesothelioma Index
• Find a local Oncologist in your town

What other kinds of information is available for people with mesothelioma?

There are numerous cancer web sites, some specific to mesothelioma. Because they are often difficult to locate, we have listed some relevant medical web sites that have information about mesothelioma.

American Institute for Cancer Research
(http://www.aicr.org)

American Thoracic Society
(http://www.thoracic.org/)

Canadian Cancer Society
(http://www.bc.cancer.ca)

MesotheliomaWeb
(http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org)

Mesothelioma At A Glance

• Mesothelioma is a cancer that arises from the cells lining the chest or abdominal cavities.
• Mesothelioma typically results from exposure to asbestos.
• When mesothelioma affects the chest, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope.
• When mesothelioma affects the abdomen, the doctor may look inside the abdomen with a special tool called a peritoneoscope.
• Mesothelioma is diagnosed by a biopsy.
• The outlook for patients with mesothelioma depends on how early the disease is detected and how aggressively it is treated.