Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can occur in the lining of the lungs, or the linings of certain other organs. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium. This is a thin layer of tissue or membrane, like a piece of ‘cling film’, which surrounds certain organs of our body. Mesothelium can be found in the pleura (the lining around the lungs), the pericardium (the lining around the heart), and the peritoneum (the lining around the abdominal cavity). Most mesotheliomas begin as a single cancerous cell that multiplies and grows to form a solid coating of tumour, like a piece of thick cardboard, surrounding the lung, heart or abdominal organs.
