Causes of Malignant Mesothelioma

The only proven cause of malignant mesothelioma is asbestos exposure . Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested and become lodged in the organs of the body. Overtime the fibers cause scarring and inflammation, which can eventually lead to the development of mesothelioma. The asbestos fibers cause cellular damage; resulting in the rapid division of cancers cells. The rapidly producing cells cause the affected membrane to thicken, resulting in fluid buildup in the spaces between the membrane layers. As the cells continue to divide and grow, tumors form. Unfortunately it typically takes between 20 and 50 years for a patient to demonstrate symptoms of mesothelioma, which frequently allows the cancer to progress to mature stages, making treatment more difficult.