MESOTHELIOMA is a rare form of cancer that affects navy veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their time in the service.  Asbestos has valuable properties, and was used extensively in naval applications for decades. Experts estimate that military exposure may account for up to 30 percent of all MESOTHELIOMA cases diagnosed in the United States.

In naval vessels, asbestos was specifically used as insulation for boilers, water and steam pipes and incinerators.  Many Navy personnel were exposed to asbestos fibers. This has resulted in an abnormally high amount of asbestos-related cancer cases among veterans.

Typical cancer symptoms show up only at an advanced stage in MESOTHELIOMA at which time no wholly curative treatments are available.  This long latency period often means that patients are unaware of their high risk for contracting malignant  MESOTHELIOMA.

The Navy used 298 asbestos-containing products on vessels between the 1930s and 1970s.  Usually, it takes years or decades after the initial asbestos exposure before manifests. It is for this reason that asbestos continued to be widely used in the construction of ships well through the 1970s. It is also why new cases of . MESOTHELIOMA among veterans continue to persist.

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