Prolonged exposure to asbestos for long periods of time can result to mesothelioma. Studies show that inhalation/ingestion of asbestos fiber is the only known cause for the disease. This type of cancer is considered rare but about 2,000 people are diagnosed in the US each year. Diagnosis is quite difficult because symptoms typically appear after several decades (30 to 50 years) and often resemble those of other more common illnesses. Prognosis is usually poor, particularly when the disease reached the advanced stages before diagnosis.
