Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can be difficult to diagnose.

Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer is a dreaded disease that is nearly always caused by just one factor: exposure to asbestos. In many cases of mesothelioma, asbestos exposure occurred in the workplace. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can be difficult to diagnose. Several diseases can cause symptoms similar to mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of the chest or abdomen. Being exposed to asbestos can affect the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer.

While considered a rare cancer, mesothelioma is not rare among individuals exposed to asbestos. The great tragedy of mesothelioma is that it was preventable. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer (malignancy) that most frequently arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common. This can effect the organs in the abdomen, and its symptoms are related to this area of the body.