By: Jackie Clark Mesothelioma is a rare and usually fatal form
of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, or the protective
lining that covers many internal organs of the body, with the
lungs being the most common site. About 70% of cases are pleural
mesothelioma, in the lining of the lungs. However, in children,
the cancer often occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity,
also known as peritoneal mesothelioma. The main cause of the
disease is exposure to asbestos in the immediate surroundings,
especially in old homes that were constructed with asbestos-
containing building material. Many experts believe that children
may have contracted mesothelioma by secondary means, through
inhalation of fibers from the clothing of an adult family member
who has been exposed to asbestos, especially at their job site.
Moreover, since the symptoms of mesothelioma usually take many
years to develop and there is no immunization to prevent
mesothelioma, experts believe that children may have acquired it
through heredity or p