NORD's
Washington Office
 Read about events on Capitol Hill, funding for rare-disease research, and other topics of interest from NORD's office in Washington, DC.
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"Resources" on this report.
Copyright 2004, 2006
NORD is grateful to W. Roy Smythe, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, Scott & White Hospital, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center College of Medicine, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Mesothelioma
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the membrane that covers and protects various internal organs of the body (mesothelium). The mesothelium is composed of two layers of specialized cells known as mesothelial cells. One layer directly surrounds an organ; the other forms a protective sac around the organ. The most common form of mesothelioma affects the membrane or sac that lines the lungs (pleura). Other common sites include the membrane lining the stomach (peritoneum) and the membrane lining the heart (pericardium).
The term "cancer" refers to a group of diseases characterized by abnormal, uncontrolled cellular growth (e.g., mesothelial cells) that invades surrounding tissues and may spread (metastasize) to distant bodily tissues or organs via the bloodstream, the lymphatic system, or other means. Different forms of cancer, including mesothelioma, may be classified based upon the cell type involved, the specific nature of the malignancy, the tissues or organs affected, and the disease's clinical course. Symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending upon the location, type and stage of the cancer. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of cases of mesothelioma result from exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until up to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. However, after symptoms began apparent, mesothelioma may rapidly progress to cause life-threatening complications.
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Organizations related to Mesothelioma
- American Cancer Society, Inc.
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta GA 30329
Phone #: 404-320-3333
800 #: 800-227-2345
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.org
- American Lung Association
1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20004
Phone #: 202-785-3355
800 #: 800-586-4872
e-mail: info@lungusa.org
Home page: http://www.lungusa.org
- Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
1525 Aviation Boulevard
Suite 318
Redondo Beach CA 90278
Phone #: 310-251-7477
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@AsbestosDiseaseAwareness.org
Home page: http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org
- Canadian Cancer Society
55 St. Clair Avenue West Suite 500
Toronto None M4V 2Y7
Phone #: (41-6) -488-5400
800 #: 1 8-00 -268-8874
e-mail: webmaster@ontario.cancer.ca
Home page: http://www.cancer.ca/
- Cancer Care, Inc.
275 Seventh Avenue
New York NY 10001
Phone #: 212-712-8400
800 #: 800-813-4673
e-mail: info@cancercare.org
Home page: http://www.cancercare.org
- Cancer Support Community
919 18th Street N.W.
Suite 54
Washington DC 20006
Phone #: 202-659-9709
800 #: 888-793-9355
e-mail: N/A
Home page: www.cancersupportcommunity.org
- Cancer.Net
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2318 Mill Road
Suite 800
Alexandria VA 22314
Phone #: 571-483-1780
800 #: 888-651-3038
e-mail: contactus@cancer.net
Home page: http://www.cancer.net/patient
- Friends of Cancer Research
2231 Crystal Drive
Suite 200
Arlington VA 22202
Phone #: 703-302-1503
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@focr.org
Home page: http://www.focr.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
- Lance Armstrong Foundation
2201 E. Sixth Street
Austin TX 78702
Phone #: 512-236-8820
800 #: 877-236-8820
e-mail: media@livestrong.org
Home page: http://www.livestrong.org
- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, Inc.
3944 State Street
Suite 340
Santa Barbara CA 93190-1840
Phone #: 805-563-8400
800 #: 877-363-6376
e-mail: j-wayne@marf.org
Home page: http://www.curemeso.org
- Mesothelioma Web
10655 Six Pines Dr., Ste. 260
The Woodlands TX 77380
Phone #: 877-367-6376
800 #: 877-367-6376
e-mail: info@mesotheliomaweb.org
Home page: http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org
- National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
Bethesda MD 20892-8322
Phone #: 301-435-3848
800 #: 800-422-6237
e-mail: cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.cancer.gov
- PMP Pals' Network
P.O. Box 6484
Salinas CA 93912
Phone #: 831-424-4545
800 #: --
e-mail: pmppals@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.pmppals.org
- Rare Cancer Alliance
1649 North Pacana Way
Green Valley AZ 85614
Phone #: 520-625-5495
800 #: --
e-mail: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org
Home page: http://www.rare-cancer.org
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