Mesothelioma is an extremely rare, but aggressive, cancer which affects the mesothelium, or soft tissue surrounding the organs. It is nearly always linked to previous exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring silicate mineral, and can sometime appear as long as 50 years after asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma is diagnosed after a patient has reported experiencing common symptoms of the cancer, or if the patient has high risk factors such as a history of working with asbestos, by using a combination of methods, including a physical examination, X-rays, CT scans, PET scans and MRI scans. www.asbestos.net

In treating your mesothelioma, you will likely consult with a number of doctors, including your primary-care physician, pathologists, oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and palliative-care physicians.

Review resources and information available to North Dakota residents whose lives have been affected by asbestos and mesothelioma. Such resources include legal, medical, including doctors, treatment centers and clinical trials, and information about asbestos removal.

As advancements in mesothelioma treatments are developed, new methods of combating the asbestos cancer are being developed. Among them, immunotherapy is being developed to help the body’s immune system fight off deadly cells.