MesoRC: Mesothelioma Resource Center

Mesothelioma Information
• What is mesothelioma?
• Mesothelioma medical glossary
• Mesothelioma causes
• Mesothelioma types
• Mesothelioma symptoms
• Mesothelioma risk factors
• Worldwide exposure
• Mesothelioma awareness

Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatment
• Diagnosed with mesothelioma
• Mesothelioma stages
• Mesothelioma research
• Mesothelioma treatment
• Mesothelioma clinical trials
• Mesothelioma doctors & healthcare professionals
• Importance of seeing a specialist
• Communicating with your doctor
• Mesothelioma treatment centers
• Choosing a treatment center
• Mesothelioma pain & management
• Diet & nutrition tips
• Exercise & mesothelioma
• Traveling with mesothelioma

Caring For a Loved One
• A loved ones' diagnosis
• Learning to cope
• Caregiver tips
• Mesothelioma support groups
• Getting organized
• Advanced care planning
• Financial planning
• Financial assistance
• Hospice care
• Benefits of companion pets
• Benefits of online support
• Holiday guide for patients
• Holiday guide for caregivers

There are several factors that have been found to increase a person's risk of developing mesothelioma.

Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral fiber, accounts for at least 70 to 80% of all mesothelioma cases. As many as 8 million Americans may already have been exposed to asbestos through swallowing or inhaling it. Those most vulnerable to mesothelioma are people exposed to high levels of asbestos, those exposed to asbestos at a very young age, or individuals who are exposed to the fibers for an extended period of time. Second-hand asbestos exposure has also been found to be a mesothelioma risk factor. For example, a person that works with asbestos can carry the fibers home on their clothing, where a family member unknowingly comes into contact with it.

However, not everyone who has had exposure with asbestos will develop mesothelioma. In fact, only about 5% of those exposed to high levels of asbestos will contract the disease, while others with only brief exposure will become seriously ill. This suggests that some individuals may have a pre-existing condition that increases their risk of developing mesothelioma or were born with a predisposition to the disease.

Radiation  Thorotrast (thorium dioxide), a radioactive substance used in x-rays from the 1920s to the 1950s, was found to cause cancer. Some research establishes a link between Thorotrast and malignant mesothelioma. Fortunately, it is no longer being used today and is no longer considered a mesothelioma risk factor.

Genetics

Some studies suggest that family history may play a role in whether or not a person develops mesothelioma. However, there is no conclusive evidence yet to support this theory.

Zeolite

Zeolite is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in the soil, with properties similar to asbestos. It has been linked to cases of mesothelioma in Turkey, where zeolite is used in the construction of houses.

Smoking

Smoking tobacco itself does not cause malignant mesothelioma and thus, is not a mesothelioma risk factor. However, people who smoke and are exposed to asbestos appear to have a greatly increased risk of developing mesothelioma in the lungs and air passageways (pleural mesothelioma) as a result of smoking.