Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

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

Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, or peritoneal cancer throughout your life. Although the risk is believed to decrease after 40 years, exposure to asbestos of any kind can be dangerous.

Age

The older a person is when exposed, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that affects the mesothelium which is a thin layer of tissue surrounding important organs in the body. The cancerous cells expand in uncontrolled ways and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in those who have been exposed to asbestos, either through their own job or as a member of someone who worked with it.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most affected in patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma, although it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum, as well as the lining of the heart (pericardium).

Asbestos is a non-porous and long-lasting mineral. It was utilized for construction, insulation, and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. In the 1980s many millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos because of their work or living near someone who was exposed to asbestos.

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

Mesothelioma symptoms are typically not likely to manifest until a long time after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to other cancers, and may be fatal if treated.

Mesothelioma affects men more often than women, and it is the most frequently diagnosed in people over age 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and people who installed or handled asbestos-containing products are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The asbestos in the clothing of these people could expose their families to risk.

Smoking

A person's chances of getting mesothelioma increases the longer they're exposed asbestos. This is due to the long latency period which can last between 20 and 60 years from the time of exposure until diagnosis. Based on the type of asbestos, a patient's mesothelioma can occur in various parts of the body. The wall of the chest and the lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develop abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.

Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos most often develop mesothelioma in their chests or lung. The most at the risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in people who were exposed to asbestos at home or at school. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed employees can carry asbestos-containing particles from their workplace home on their clothing, skin, and hair. This puts them at risk.

Mesothelioma sufferers are usually white and over the age of 65. They are more likely to have had an occupation with a blue collar or military background. Asbestos was used extensively by the United States Navy and other branches in the military due to its ability to withstand flames. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA mutations occur, they can cause cells to grow uncontrolled. This leads to the formation of tumors, which eventually transform into mesothelioma. The disease can affect any part of the body, however the majority of cases occur in the chest or abdomen.

Smoking does not cause mesothelioma. However it can increase the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that people breathe in. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should think about stopping smoking cigarettes.

Additionally, a person's mesothelioma treatment program should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors that can cause this type of cancer. Having an experienced mesothelioma specialist to assist them determine the best method to treat this rare cancer. The doctor can determine whether the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, is used in a variety of items, such as flooring, roofing and insulation. Workers who handle, make or work with asbestos-containing products are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can cause cancer and other illnesses.

There is a long time of time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms which makes it difficult to diagnose many asbestos diseases. Mesothelioma is the most dangerous asbestos-related illness. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 year after asbestos exposure.

The most common way people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Construction, manufacturing, electrical and automobile mechanic jobs all require the handling of asbestos-containing parts and materials. The risk of exposure to asbestos is also present by their home activities such as smoking or renovating older houses that contain asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the most frequent mesothelioma-related cause. Asbestos fibers inhaled can travel into the lungs and irritate the lining known as the pleura. This irritation causes the development of thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses it can lead to fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately to lung cancer. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissues of other organs like the heart and abdomen.

Mesothelioma is most common in those who have been exposed to asbestos working. People who have a family history of mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of exposure to asbestos is increased if a person has held more than one job in the course of their lives. Smoking can increase the risk of mesothelioma however, it can also worsen the condition for those who are already diagnosed. If you have had a history of exposure asbestos lawyer and have mesothelioma symptoms quitting smoking may help you live longer and improve your treatment outcome. Inform your doctor if have been exposed to asbestos or if you notice any new symptoms like abdominal pain or shortness of breathe. They can prescribe medication or operate to treat the disease.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically linked and a person's genes can increase the chances of developing a specific disease. Mesothelioma however does not have a genetic component. Instead asbestos exposure is the main reason.

Asbestos fibers can enter the body by being inhaled or swallowed, and they stick to the lining of the chest (the pleura), the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). As time passes, these loose fibers can cause damage or alteration to the cells that comprise these linings. This can lead to mesothelioma development.

However, mesothelioma may not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe that other aspects can determine if a person develops mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. This includes the person's gender, age, gender, family history of mesothelioma and other diseases, as well as any additional risk factors like smoking.

Mesothelioma is more likely to be found in men than women. This is because men were more likely than women to have been exposed directly to asbestos at work. It can take between 20 and 60 years for mesothelioma develop following the first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma is an infected gene. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, scientists found that almost every person in the family had a defective gene on their short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, known as BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium inside cells. With a faulty gene, this process is affected and calcium levels drop. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous cells and cause mesothelioma.

A gene that is mutated can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. The mutation causes a decrease in white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

Other factors that increase a person's chance of mesothelioma are the type of asbestos they were exposed to as well as their work. In addition the polio vaccine that was given to children in the 1940s and 1950s could increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person because it exposed them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.