The National Cancer Institute defines malignant mesothelioma as a rare form of cancer where malignant cells are identified in the sac lining of the pleura (chest), peritoneum (abdomen) or the pericardium (heart). Most patients diagnosed with this disease have worked on jobs where they are exposed to asbestos. People who have breathed asbestos in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s are diagnosed with these problems many decades later because of the long dormancy period associated with asbestos diseases.
In a report released by the National Cancer Institute's SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program) in April 2003, there was a projection of approximately 71,000 cases of American male mesothelioma from 2003-2054. However, this number did not consider events like the disaster on World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, where millions of New York residents were exposed to air containing carcinogenic particles of asbestos.
Once the dormancy period for asbestos diseases has been factored in, there will be more diagnosis of cases of mesothelioma in years to come.