Glossary of Mesothelioma Terms
Asbestos Information and Resources
These terms are some of the most common associated with mesothelioma:
Alveoli: Small air sacs in the lungs that assist the oxygen/blood exchange.
Asbestos: A term applied to the naturally occurring fibrous minerals used for insulation in industry, construction, and textile manufacturing.
Asbestosis: A non-cancerous condition caused by asbestos exposure that causes scarring and destruction of lung tissue.
Benign: A cancerous growth that does not pose a threat to other tissues.
Cancer: Uncontrolled cell growth generally caused by a mutation of cellular DNA. Cancer is either benign or malignant.
Chemotherapy: Drugs that kill cancer cells, but may also destroy normal, healthy cells.
Gene therapy: A new, innovative treatment method that affects the way the body recognizes cancer cells.
Malignant: A cancerous growth that will damage the body if left untreated.
Mesothelioma: A deadly cancer of the mesothelium, which is a lining surrounding the heart, abdomen and lungs.
Mesothelium: A cell membrane covering many internal organs and body cavities that releases a lubricating fluid that helps with organ movement.
Metastasize: When a cancerous growth spreads from a diseased organ or tissue to a healthy one.
Multimodal therapy: Employing more than one treatment method to destroy mesothelioma cells.
Pericardium: The sac surrounding the heart, which creates a fluid that helps the heart move easily.
Peritoneum: A membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity which produces a lubricating fluid to aid the stomach and intestines in movement.
Pleura: The membrane surrounding the lungs that releases a fluid which helps lungs move during inhaling and exhaling.
Radiation therapy: A treatment method that uses high energy to kill the genetic material inside cancerous cells.
