Mesothelioma
A rare malignant tumor of the lung membrane which lines the chest and abdominal cavity. Malignant mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor of the pleura (lining of the lung and chest cavity) or peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) that is almost always caused by sustained exposure to asbestos.

Laparotomy
Abdominal exploration is a type of surgery where the abdomen is opened (laparotomy) and explored (exploratory laparotomy) for examination and treatment of problems. Might be used in relation to asbestos disease problems.

Friable asbestos
Any material containing more than one percent asbestos, and that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure. (May include previously non-friable material which becomes broken or damaged by mechanical force.)

Parenchymal fibrosis
It is easily conceivable that prolonged retention of some types of minerals in the lung would be a stimulating factor for inflammatory and neoplastic processes, leading in turn to parenchymal fibrosis and peripheral cancer.

ACTS
Asbestos Contractor Tracking System - Asbestos Demolition/ Renovation, and Asbestos Contractor Tracking System in some states is an EPA system

Stage 3 Mesothelioma
Stage 3 mesothelioma has spread to the chest wall, food pipe (oesophagus) or lymph nodes on the same side of the chest

Abatement
Removal or controlling release of asbestos fibers. Includes operations and maintenance (O & M), encapsulation, enclosure, and removal.

Asbestos
A general term applied to certain polysilicate fibrous minerals displaying similar physical characteristics although differing in composition. The most common asbestos mineral (over 95% of U.S. production) is chrysotile, a variety of serpentine, a metamorphic mineral.

Alimta (pemetrexed for injection)
Alimta is a new cancer drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta is given with cisplatin, another anti-cancer medicine.

Amosite
A type of asbestos in the amphibole group; it is also known as brown asbestos.