About mesothelioma

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. Cancer of the mesothelium--mesothelioma--is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. These cancer cells can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also spread from their original site to other parts of the body.