Mesothelioma and Asbestos Asbestos can cause a number of medical ailments. One of these conditions is mesothelioma. This rare cancer affects the linings of certain organs. The most frequent kinds are peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma develops from breathing asbestos fibres. These fibres cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. https://vimeo.com/704931918