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According to the National Cancer Institute, about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed and reported each year. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin, membranous tissue surrounding the internal organs. All cancers have causes, whether those causes are obvious or not.
Mesothelioma
The mesothelium is a thin layer of tissue that helps organs slide easily against each other. Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium. A well-known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a substance used in industries as a fire retardant. Evidence has shown that people with mesothelioma were more likely to have been exposed to asbestos than people without mesothelioma.
Cancer Causes
Cancer causes are a combination of different things, including genetics, the environment and health habits. Mesothelioma has a close association with asbestos, yet other people develop it without being clearly exposed to asbestos.
Smoking
According to the National Cancer Institute, smoking does not appear to be a risk factor for mesothelioma. However, those exposed to both smoking and asbestos have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma.
No Reason?
All cancers have a reason. Something happens at the molecular level that causes the cells of an organ or a tissue to multiply out of control. What that "something" was is hard to tell in some cases.
Source:
National Cancer Institute: Mesothelioma Questions and Answers
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