a form of carcinoma of the mesothelium lining lungs or abdomen or heart; usually associated with exposure to asbestos dust
"After decades of working in shipyards, John was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by his long-term exposure to asbestos dust."
An uncommon malignant tumour of the mesothelium, usually of the lungs after exposure to asbestos.
"John was diagnosed with mesothelioma after decades of working in a shipyard where he had been exposed to asbestos dust."
In plain English: Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that develops from long-term exposure to asbestos, usually affecting the lining of your lungs or abdomen.
"The doctor explained that his diagnosis was mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by long-term exposure to asbestos in old buildings."
Usage: Mesothelioma is a rare cancer specifically caused by inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers and typically affects the lining of the lungs, chest cavity, or abdomen. It is distinct from other lung cancers because it requires direct contact with asbestos for development rather than general smoking exposure alone.
Mesothelioma is a medical term formed by combining mesothelium, the tissue lining certain body cavities, with the suffix -oma to denote a tumor. The word entered English in the early 20th century as doctors developed this specific name for cancers arising from that membrane.