Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium, which is the lining that protects vital organs of the body. A diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma (often simply called mesothelioma) is very serious. Most cases are fatal within two years, although recent improvements in treatment (both chemotherapy and surgical treatment) have extended the survival times of many mesothelioma patients.

Mesothelioma can occur as the result of very low levels of exposure to asbestos fibers. It often takes several decades for signs of the disease to surface.

Nearly 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the United States. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough, chest and back pain, and weight loss. Victims tend to be men ages 50 and up, though nearly anyone who has been exposed to asbestos can contract the disease. The disease is most common in industrial and construction workers, but can also result from household exposures. Many cases of mesothelioma have occurred in the children or wives of industrial workers, who have been exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on the clothing of the worker.