Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of inhaling or inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers penetrate the wall of the abdomen and chest cavity, known as the pleura or peritoneum.

The exposure to asbestos increases the lifetime risk of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneal or pleural regions. Although the risk appears to diminish after 40 years, exposure to asbestos of any kind is dangerous.

Age

The older a person is at the time of exposure the more likely they will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium, a thin layer surrounding the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells multiply rapidly and create tumors. Mesothelioma usually affects people who have been exposed to asbestos. This could happen through their work or being a close family member.

Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma due to irritation of the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum or the heart lining (pericardium).

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral is extremely durable and heat-resistant. It was utilized in insulation, construction and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. During this time many millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos due to their work or being close to an exposed loved one.

When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air. They are too difficult for the body's system to break them down or process. The fibers can get stuck in the lungs and cause irritation that can lead to cancer.

The symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not appear for decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar with other cancers, and may be fatal if not treated.

Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than women. It is also more often diagnosed for those who are older than 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and people who work with asbestos-containing items are at the highest chance of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure in the workplace. Family members of these people are also at higher risk since asbestos could be found on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer an individual is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing mesothelioma. This is because of the lengthy latency period which can range from 20 to 60 years from the first exposure to the disease until it is diagnosed. Depending on the kind of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma could be found in various areas of the body. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining between the lung cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develop abdominal lining, also known as the peritoneum.

Those who have been exposed to asbestos the most often develop mesothelioma that is found in their chests or the lungs. Most at risk are those who worked in the fields of shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma can also develop in individuals who were exposed to asbestos in their homes or at school. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos could take the fibers into their clothes, skin and hair, which can put them at risk too.

Mesothelioma patients tend to be white and older than 65. They are more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military have used asbestos extensively because of its properties to resist flames, and millions of veterans may have been exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma can develop when an individual's DNA undergoes changes which cause cells to multiply unchecked. This results in the development of tumors, which eventually turn into mesothelioma. The disease can affect any part of the body, but the majority of cases occur in the chest or abdomen.

Smoking cigarettes can cause mesothelioma, but it increases your risk by increasing the amount of asbestos you breathe in. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider quitting smoking.

A person's treatment plan for mesothelioma should include a doctor who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma expert can help determine the best treatment for this rare cancer. The doctor will determine if the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally is used in a myriad of products like flooring, roofing, and insulation. Anyone who works with asbestos-containing products and manufacture them, or work with them are at a high risk of being exposed. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers could lead to breathing asbestos litigation fibers into the lungs, where they cause illness and cancer.

Many asbestos-related illnesses are not discovered until it's too late due to an extended period of time between exposure and the development of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most hazardous asbestos compensation disease. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos claim.

The most common way people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. All jobs that require asbestos handling or use, including those in manufacturing, construction, automotive mechanics, and electrical. Some people are also exposed through activities at home such as smoking or renovating older homes that contain asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the most common mesothelioma causing agent. As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lung, where they cause irritation to the lining of the lungs, known as pleura. This irritation can lead to the development of thickened patches on the pleura (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses it can lead to the accumulation of fluid within the chest cavity, and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma may also affect the linings of other organs such as the heart or abdomen.

Mesothelioma is the most frequent cancer among people who have been exposed to asbestos working. However, those with an ancestor with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of asbestos exposure is increased if someone has had more than one job over the course of their life. Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can also aggravate the condition for those who are already diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if you have an asbestos-related exposure in the past and are suffering from mesothelioma. It can also help you live longer and improve the outcome of your treatment. Inform your doctor if have been exposed to asbestos or notice any new symptoms such as abdominal pain or shortness of breathing. They may prescribe medication or perform surgery to treat the disease.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically linked, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the chance of them getting a particular disease. However, mesothelioma does not have any genetic component. Instead asbestos exposure is the primary factor.

asbestos lawsuit fibers may enter the body through inhalation or swallowing and stick to the tissues of the chest, abdomen or heart. These loose fibers can damage the cells that comprise these linings, which can become thin over time. This could lead to mesothelioma.

Despite this there is a chance that not everyone who is exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors can determine if a person develops mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This includes the person's age and gender, their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases, and whether they have other risk factors, such as smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This may be because more men than women were exposed to asbestos directly at work. It can take between 20 and 60 years for mesothelioma to develop following the first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having an infected gene. In the study of two families with mesothelioma incidences that were high researchers found that nearly every member of the family had an abnormal gene on their short arm chromosome 3. This gene, called BAP 1 regulates the flow of calcium within cells. A faulty gene disrupts this process and causes calcium levels to decrease. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous cells and cause mesothelioma.

Mutations in a gene can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. People with this gene mutation have lower levels of white blood cells, which are the cells that fight off cancerous cells.

Other factors that could increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person include the kind of asbestos they were exposed to and their job. Additionally the polio vaccine that was given to children in the 1940s and 1950s may increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person by exposing them to cancer-causing SV40 virus.