Mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the lung, is caused by exposure to asbestos. Because of long dormancy period,mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can remain undetected for over a decade before the patient shows any signs of illness. An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later in life. For this reason, many people are not diagnosed with mesothelioma until later in life. VISIT THE WEBSITE for mesothelioma, or see the American Cancer Society website and type “Mesothelioma” in the search box.