Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

The people who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers can penetrate the wall of the chest cavity and abdomen and are also known as the pleura, or peritoneum.

Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal cancer over the course of your life. Even though the risk seems to decrease after 40 years of exposure, asbestos exposure of any kind is dangerous.

Age

The older the person is exposed to the environment, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that surrounds important organs in the body. The cancerous cells are malignant. This means that they expand beyond control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma is most often seen in those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be through their work or as a close family member.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, as it irritates mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most affected by pleural mesothelioma, although it can also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum as well as the heart lining (pericardium).

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is extremely durable and heat resistant. It was used in construction, insulation, and for other industrial uses until the 1980s. In the 1980s many millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their work or by being around someone who was exposed to asbestos.

When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers in the air. They can be inhaled and they are too hard for the body to break down or process. The fibers could cause irritation and even cancer in the lungs if they become stuck.

Mesothelioma symptoms usually do not manifest until a long time after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar with other cancers, and may be fatal without treatment.

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than women, and it is the most frequently diagnosed in those over 45. Miners, shipbuilders, railroad workers, and others who work with asbestos-containing products are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Family members of these individuals are also at a higher risk because the asbestos can get on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer someone is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the lengthy latency time that can range between 20 and 60 year from the first exposure to diagnosis. Based on the type of asbestos, an individual's mesothelioma can occur in various regions of the body. The lining of the chest wall and lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.

Those who have been exposed to asbestos are most often develop mesothelioma that is found in their chests or lung. People who worked in the shipbuilding, power generation and construction industries are most at risk. Mesothelioma is also a possible risk for those who have been exposed at home or in school to asbestos. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos may bring the fibers home on their clothes hair, skin and even their hair which puts them at risk as well.

The majority of mesothelioma patients are white and older than 65. They are more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or military background. Asbestos was used extensively by the United States Navy and other branches of the military due to its resistance to flames. Millions of veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to multiply without a limit. This causes the development of tumors, which eventually transform into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body, but it is most prevalent in the chest and abdomen.

Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma, but it increases the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos an individual inhales. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider abstaining from smoking.

Additionally, a person's mesothelioma treatment plan should involve an expert in asbestos lawsuit exposure and the risk factors associated with this cancer. A specialist in mesothelioma who is knowledgeable with them can help them determine the best way to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will be able determine whether a patient is eligible for experimental treatments or immunotherapy.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that naturally occurs that is found in a myriad of products, such as flooring, roofing, and insulation. Workers who handle, manufacture or work on asbestos-containing products are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to illness and cancer.

Many asbestos diseases are not recognized until it is too late due to a long time period between exposure and the development of symptoms. Mesothelioma, the most dangerous of asbestos-related illnesses is not an exception. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.

The most frequent way that people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Any job that involves asbestos handling or use include those in manufacturing, construction automotive mechanics, as well as electrical. However, people can also be exposed to asbestos lawyer through home activities, such as smoking cigarettes or the renovation of older homes that contain asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos particles that are inhaled can enter the lungs and cause irritation to the lining called the pleura. This irritation leads to the formation of thickened patches on the pleura (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses it may lead to fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues of other organs such as the heart or abdomen.

Mesothelioma is most common in those who have been exposed to asbestos working. People who have a family history of mesothelioma, or any other asbestos legal (more tips here)-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of asbestos exposure is increased if someone has held more than one job over the course of their lives. Smoking cigarettes does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can make the illness worse for those who have been diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if you have an exposure to asbestos in the past and suffer from mesothelioma. It will also allow you to live longer and enhance the results of your treatment. It is important to tell your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new signs, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, as they can treat the condition by undergoing surgery or medication.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically related, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the likelihood of getting a particular disease. However, mesothelioma does not have an element of genetics. Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause.

Asbestos fibers can enter the body by being inhaled or swallowed, and then clinging to the lining of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). As time passes the loose fibers could alter or damage the cells that compose these linings. This can lead to mesothelioma development.

However, mesothelioma may not affect every person who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors can determine if a person develops mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos. This includes gender, age, and the family history of mesothelioma as well as other diseases, as well as any additional risk factors such smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be due to the fact that more men than women were exposed to asbestos directly at work. Additionally, it takes between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to develop after a person's first exposure to asbestos.

A faulty gene is another risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that almost every person in the family had a faulty gene on the short arm of the chromosome 3. The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves through cells. With a faulty gene this process is affected and calcium levels drop. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and trigger mesothelioma.

Mutations in a gene can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. The mutated gene causes an increase in white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

Other factors that can raise the chance of developing mesothelioma are the kind of asbestos they were exposed to and their job. The polio vaccine that was given to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase a person’s mesothelioma risk by exposing them the cancer-causing SV40.