Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is directly caused by exposure to asbestos. This fatal cancer occurs in the thin layer of tissue, mesothelium, that covers most of the body’s enternal organs. According to the American Cancer Society between 2,000 and 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States.

The primary risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. People who have worked with or around asbestos for prolonged periods of time are at the highest risk for developning this deadly form of cancer.

Doctors have separated mesothelioma into different types based on the portion of the mesothelium that is affected.