The only proven cause of malignant mesothelioma is the exposure of the individual to one of the many forms of asbestos. Mesothelioma develops when the asbestos fibers enter the body, normally by inhalation or by ingestion. Once the fibers enter the body, they become lodged in the tissues that surround and protect the organs. Over a period of time, the fibers that have embedded themselves cause inflammation and scarring. This cycle of inflammation and scaring can eventually lead to the development of mesothelioma. The asbestos fibers cause cellular damage and that damage is what causes the resulting rapid division of cancer cells. The rapid production of these cells causes the affected membrane to thicken, which in turn causes a fluid build up between the membrane layers.
As the cells continue to divide at a rapid rate, tumors begin to form. This process can take up to fifty years before the victim begins to show outward signs of his inner body torment. By the time the outward signs begin to appear, inwardly, the cancer has reached stage three or stage four. By those stages, this cancer is considered terminal and more attention is given to the comfort of the patient than to the possibility of curing the disease. There is still hope on the horizon. Many clinical studies are still being performed and there are high hopes for more curative measures. A new blood test that is able to detect markers in human serum related to mesothelioma was also recently released.