Cancer

Firstly it is important to understand that cancer is not a single illness, there are very many different types and mesothelioma is just one type. Our bodies are

made of tiny building blocks called cells, cancer is a disease of these cells. Millions of new cells are made everyday to replace those lost through old age or wear and tear. This process is extremely complicated and if control is lost then it can lead to too many cells being produced - this is what results in a tumour. Most tumours are not cancerous (sometimes described as benign) and they remain in the area where they first developed. A wart is a common example. The development of cancer involves a change in the quality of the cells as well an increase in the quantity. They become more aggressive, destructive and independent of normal cells. They are able to invade surrounding tissues, glands and blood vessels and thus spread away from where they started to divide and grow. When the cancer cells reach a new site they may go on dividing and form a new tumour, this is often referred to as a secondary or metastasis (secondary).

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the Mesothelium, which is a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of the chest wall where it is known as the pleura, and abdomen, where it is known as the peritoneum. It also surrounds the organs found within these cavities for example the heart, lung and intestines. It is far more common to have mesothelioma in the chest than in the abdomen, there is approximately 1 case of peritoneal mesothelioma to every 12 cases of pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the body's internal organs, known as the mesothelium. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease, accounting for roughly 70% of cases, and occurs in the lining of the lung known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum and pericardial mesothelioma originates in the pericardium, which lines the heart