Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

Anyone who uses products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers penetrate the lining of the chest cavity or abdomen, referred to as the peritoneum and pleura.

The exposure to asbestos attorney increases the lifetime risk of malignant, mesothelioma of the peritoneal or pleural regions. Although the risk appears to decrease after more than 40 years of exposure, even minimal asbestos exposure 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, an elongated layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells expand in uncontrolled ways and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos, either through their own job or as a member of someone who was exposed to asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma because it irritates the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is most affected in patients suffering from mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the heart lining (pericardium).

Asbestos is a non-porous and long-lasting mineral. It was utilized for construction as well as insulation and other industrial purposes until the 1980s. During this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos as a result of their jobs or because they were close to an exposed loved one.

When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers into air. They can be breathed in, and they are too hard for the body to break down or process. The fibers can become stuck in the lungs and cause irritation that may lead to cancer.

Mesothelioma symptoms typically do not show up until years after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to those of other types of cancer and can be fatal if not treated.

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than women, and it is most often diagnosed in people over age 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and people who handled asbestos-containing products are at greatest risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to asbestos exposure in the workplace. Family members of these people are also at higher risk because the asbestos can get on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the lengthy latency period which can last between 20 and 60 year from the time of exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma may occur in different parts of the body depending on the type and amount of asbestos present. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lung's lining cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining of the abdomen also known as the peritoneum.

Most often, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma of the chest or the lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding and construction industries are most at risk. Mesothelioma is also a possibility for individuals who were exposed at home or in school to asbestos. Children and spouses of asbestos attorney-exposed workers can bring fibers from the workplace home and smear them on their clothes hair, skin, and. This puts them at risk.

Mesothelioma patients are usually white and older than 65. They are more likely to have an occupation with a blue collar or military background. Asbestos was widely used by the United States Navy and other branches of the military because of its ability to withstand flames. Millions of veterans were exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma may develop when a person'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 the entire body, but it is most prevalent in the abdomen and chest.

Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma, but it can increase the risk of developing this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that people breathe in. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider stopping smoking cigarettes.

The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should include a doctor who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma specialist can help determine the best treatment for this rare cancer. The doctor can determine whether the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is used in many different products such as flooring, roofing, and insulation. Workers who handle asbestos-containing materials and manufacture them, or work with them face a significant chance of being exposed. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can result in breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs, where they can cause illness or cancer.

There is a long time of latency between the exposure to Asbestos legal and the first signs of symptoms, which makes it difficult to identify many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most deadly of asbestos-related diseases is not an exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.

The most common way that people are exposed. Construction, manufacturing, electrical and auto mechanic jobs all require the handling of asbestos-containing components and materials. People can also be exposed by their home activities, such as smoking, or renovating older homes that contain asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the main mesothelioma-related cause. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled can travel into the lungs and cause irritation to the pleura, the lining of the lungs. This irritation can cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plates) and fibrosis within the lungs. As the disease progresses, it could cause fluid to accumulate in the chest cavity, and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs such as the abdomen and the heart.

People who are exposed to asbestos while at work are at a higher risk for developing mesothelioma. But people who have an ancestor with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of exposure to asbestos is increased if a person has had more than one job over the course of their life. Smoking cigarettes does not increase the likelihood of mesothelioma but it can make the condition worse for those who have already been diagnosed. If you have had a history of exposure asbestos and experience mesothelioma quitting smoking may help you live longer and improve your treatment outcome. It is important to tell your doctor about the exposure to asbestos as well as any new symptoms, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, since they can treat the condition by undergoing surgery or medication.

Genetics

Many cancers have a genetic link which means that a person's genes can increase their chances of getting a specific disease. But mesothelioma itself does not have a genetic component. Exposure to asbestos is the primary factor.

Asbestos fibers may enter the body through swallowing or inhalation and adhere to the tissues of the abdomen, chest or the heart. As time passes these fibers that are loose can cause damage or alteration to the cells that comprise these small linings, which can lead to mesothelioma development.

However, mesothelioma does not affect every person who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors could determine if a person develops mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This includes a person's age and gender, their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases and whether they have other risk factors such as smoking.

Mesothelioma is more likely to occur in men than women. This could be due to the fact that more males than females were exposed directly to asbestos at work. Additionally, it takes between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to be diagnosed following a person's initial exposure to asbestos.

A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study looking at two families with high levels of mesothelioma, researchers discovered that almost every person in the family was affected by a defective gene on their short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, dubbed BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium inside cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process which causes calcium levels to drop. This allows asbestos to turn healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

In addition, a mutated gene in a person's immune system can increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. People with this gene mutation have lower levels of white blood cells which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.

The kind of asbestos to which a person was exposed and the work they performed can also increase the risk of mesothelioma. The polio vaccine, given to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma through exposure to cancer-causing SV40.