What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (pronounced mee-so-thee-lee-oma) is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen and surrounds the organs in these areas. The lining around the lungs is called the pleura and in the abdomen it is known as the peritoneum.

Mesotheliomas are uncommon cancers, although they are becoming more frequent. Currently, about 1800 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.

Mesothelioma of the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) is much more common than mesothelioma in the peritoneum. For every person with peritoneal mesothelioma there will be about 12 people who have pleural mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma