Mesothelioma Glossary of Terms
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Medically Reviewed By:
Patricia Shelton, M.D.
Last Modified September 1, 2022
If you or a loved one is dealing with mesothelioma, you may have discovered how much jargon medical experts tend to use. It can be confusing to navigate the diagnosis and treatment options without a good explanation of the technical terms. To help make your journey a little easier, we are providing this glossary of common terms related to mesothelioma and its treatment.
Actinolite Asbestos
A subtype of amphibole asbestos. It has a dark color when viewed under a microscope due to the presence of certain minerals within the asbestos. This type is found in products like drywall, insulation, and sealant.
Adjuvant Therapy
An additional cancer treatment that is used after surgery to target any remaining cancer cells and reduce the chances that the cancer will recur. For mesothelioma, common examples of adjuvant therapy include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients might also receive neoadjuvant therapy, which is given before surgery.
Amosite Asbestos
A subtype of amphibole asbestos. This is the second most commonly used type of asbestos after chrysotile and is found in a variety of building materials in the United States. Examples include ceiling tiles, electrical insulation, and fireproof products. It is considered one of the most hazardous types of asbestos.
Amphibole Asbestos
A type of asbestos made up of straight fibers with sharp ends. There are five types of amphibole asbestos: actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and tremolite.
Anthophyllite Asbestos
A subtype of amphibole asbestos. It is brown or yellow when viewed under a microscope and is found in certain building materials such as cement, insulation, and rubber.