How Mesothelioma Affects Veterans Asbestos exposure is the
leading cause of the rare cancer known as mesothelioma (the most
common form of this cancer is pleural mesothelioma). This cancer
affects the protective lining around the lungs called the
'mesothelium.' Asbestos related lung diseases and cancer are not
easily diagnosed and unfortunately, are not evident in the body
until many years after exposure. There are many individuals who
have been exposed to this deadly fiber in their homes and work
locations. Typical environments where asbestos was used were
shipyards, construction sites, and places where the fiber was
used for insulation purposes. What most people fail to
recognize, however, is that many US veterans who served in the
military were also exposed to the toxic hazards of asbestos in
their daily routines. Those who may have been directly or
indirectly in contact with asbestos fibers include Navy shipyard
workers, other military branches and even civilian workers
employed on or off shore in differe