Asbestos cancer / mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, also known as pleural or asbestos cancer, is a malignant cancer type in the pleural cavity or lungs and airways. 85% of mesothelioma cases are caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, which led to the name “asbestos cancer”.

At the NKI Lung Cancer Center, our specialists excel at thoracic oncology: lung cancer and tumors in the lungs, airways, pleural cavity, and thymus, including mesothelioma/asbestos cancer and neuroendocrine tumors in the lungs. The Netherlands Cancer Institute is an expert center for mesothelioma in the Netherlands.

Find out more about the symptoms and the most commonly used diagnostic tests and treatment types for asbestos cancer on this page.

Asbestos exposure is often a result of professional activities surrounding asbestos (carpentry, shipbuilding, railroad workers, plumbers). Problems related to exposure tend to arise 20 to 50 years after exposure. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women. Smoking cigarettes, pipe, or cigars after asbestos exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer.

Mesothelioma won’t cause any symptoms right away. Some issues you might experience are: