Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks the mesothelium.  The mesothelium is the thin membrane that covers our internal organs and forms a protective barrieraround them.  To allow the internal organs to move around easily (when our lungs inhale and exhale) a fluid is secreted by the mesothelium.  Since the mesothelium covers different organs it has different names.  Pleura mesothelioma is cancer of the membrane covering the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma   is cancer of the membrane that covers the abdomen or stomach.  Mesothelioma cancer is when the mesothelium lining becomes abnormal and grows uncontrollably causing pain.  This can be benign or malignant.  Malignant mesothelioma cancer will damage the tissue of the organ it resides on and possibly invade other organs.  Most cases of mesothelioma are either pleural or peritoneal. the Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum. Althought mesothelioma is a very serious disease it is very rare.  The majority of cases are male and there are around 2,000 new cases every year.  A major factor in the risk level of a person contracting mesothelioma is their exposure to asbestos.  Most patients were exposed to asbestos in the manufacturing or building industry where asbestos was used widely for years. Mesothelioma cancer was not widely recognized until 1960 when a South African experiment proved a high association with asbestos and mesothelioma.  The Unisted States Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of asbestos in 1986.