Rare cancer invades the state of Maine

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A report by a federal agency says Maine has the nation's highest death rate from a lethal cancer linked to asbestos.

It's called mesothelioma, and 173 Maine residents died from it during a six-year period beginning in 1999.

According to mesothelioma-lung-cancer.org, Mesothelioma is a very rare form of lung cancer that arises in the mesothelium.

The mesothelium is made up of parietal and visceral membranes, thin layers of tissue, which surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen.

This fluid helps organs move easily among surrounding structures.

In the case of the lung, it helps reduce friction between the lung and chest wall during normal breathing as the lung expands.