The most common type of mesothelioma is the Pleural Mesothelioma. The pleura is a thin membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity. Another form of mesothelioma is the Peritoneal Mesothelioma. The peritoneum is the membrane that encloses the organs of the abdomen. While peritoneal mesotheliomas are less common than pleural mesotheliomas, they tend to be more invasive, and thus result in a shorter life expectancy for the patient.

Pleural mesothelioma is of two kinds: (1) diffuse and malignant (cancerous), and (2) localized and benign (non-cancerous). Benign mesotheliomas can often be removed surgically, are generally not life-threatening, and are not usually related to asbestos exposure. Malignant mesotheliomas, however, are very serious. Fortunately, they are rare - about two thousand people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the U.S. each year. The remainder of this section is about diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma.

There are two kinds of pleural mesothelioma: diffuse and malignant (cancerous), and localized and benign (non-cancerous). Benign mesothelioma can often be removed surgically and is generally not life threatening. It is usually not related to asbestos exposure. Malignant mesothelioma, however, is very serious and about two thousand people are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in the U.S. each year. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the pleura or lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs. The only known cause in is previous exposure to asbestos fibers, including chrysotile, amosite or crocidolite asbestos.

Pleural mesothelioma spreads within the chest cavity, sometimes involving the lung. Metastases can occur in any organ, including the brain, and are much more common than previously thought. The onset of mesothelioma is usually very slow, the most common presenting symptom is persistent pain localized in the chest. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by severe difficulty breathing, due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space known as pleural effusion. Cough, weight loss and fever are not uncommon.

Pleural mesothelioma is a variety of the rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma have cancerous growths in the tissues surrounding their lungs. The only known cause of pleural mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, and men between ages 50 and 70 are more commonly diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma than any other demographic. There are generally two categories of pleural mesothelioma, localized and benign, and generalized and malignant. The localized and benign version of pleural mesothelioma is not considered life-threatening and is easily removed through surgery.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which cancer cells develop in the sac lining the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity or the lining around the heart. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is cancer which is found in the lining of the chest. When pleural mesothelioma cancer spreads, the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal. These malignant cells begin to divide and spread without order and can begin to affect other organs and tissues in the immediate area. This often leads to complications and damage to the surrounding organs.