Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

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

Exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal cancer over the course of your life. Although the risk is believed to diminish after more than 40 years of exposure, even a small amount of exposure to asbestos is risky.

Age

The older a person is when they are exposed, the more likely they will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue surrounding major organs in the body. The cancerous cells multiply in uncontrolled ways and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma usually affects people who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be due to their work or being a close family member.

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

Asbestos is a heat-resistant and long-lasting mineral. It was utilized in construction, insulation and other industrial applications prior to the 1980s. During this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their jobs or because they were close to an exposed loved one.

When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into air. These can be inhaled, and they are too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers can become stuck in the lungs, causing irritation that leads to cancer.

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

Mesothelioma is more common in men than women, and is the most frequently diagnosed in those over 45. The people who are at most risk of developing mesothelioma because asbestos exposure at work include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and others who worked with or installed products that contain asbestos. Family members of these people are also at higher risk due to the fact that asbestos can be found on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer an individual is exposed to asbestos, the higher their risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the lengthy latency period which can last between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure to diagnosis. Depending on the kind of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma can occur in various parts of the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lung's lining cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma can be found in the lining of the abdomen also known as the peritoneum.

Most often, people who have been exposed develop mesothelioma in the chest or lungs. Most at risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power generation and construction. Mesothelioma is also a possible risk for individuals who were exposed at home or in school to asbestos. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers may carry asbestos-containing particles from their workplace home and smear them on their clothes, skin, and hair. This puts them at risk.

Mesothelioma patients tend to be white and older than 65. They are more likely to have had an occupation that was blue collar or a military background. Asbestos was extensively used by the United States Navy and other branches of the military due to its flame-resistant qualities. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA changes occur, they may cause cells to grow uncontrolled. This may lead to formation of tumors that later become 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 may increase the risk of developing this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos lawsuit that one breathes. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider abstaining from smoking.

The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should include a doctor who is well-versed in asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma expert can help determine the best treatment option for this rare cancer. The specialist will be able to determine whether a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that naturally occurs is used in a myriad of products including flooring, roofing and insulation. Workers who handle, make or work with asbestos-containing materials are at risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to illness and cancer.

There is a long time of latency between exposure to asbestos compensation and the first signs of symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose many asbestos lawsuit-related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most deadly asbestos litigation-related disease. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.

Exposure to occupational hazards is the most frequent way in which people are exposed. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and auto mechanic jobs all require the handling of asbestos-containing components and materials. Some people are also exposed to asbestos through home activities, such as smoking, or renovating older homes that contain asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to the lungs, where they irritate the lining of the lungs, known as pleura. This irritation causes the formation of thickened pleura patches (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 can also affect the tissues of other organs, such as the heart and abdomen.

People who are exposed to asbestos at work are at a higher risk for developing mesothelioma. However, people with a family history of mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses, are also at risk. The risk for a person is increased if they were exposed to asbestos in multiple jobs during their lifetime. Smoking cigarettes does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can make the disease worse for those who have already been diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if have had an asbestos-related exposure in the past and are suffering from mesothelioma. It can also allow you to live longer and enhance the results of your treatment. It is important to tell your doctor about the exposure to asbestos as well as any new signs, such as shortness of breath or abdominal pain, as they can treat the disease by using medication or surgery.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically linked and a person's genes may increase the likelihood of them getting a particular disease. Mesothelioma, however, does not have a gene component. Exposure to asbestos is the most important reason.

Asbestos fibers can enter the body via swallowing or inhalation, and then stick to the tissues of the chest, abdomen or heart. Over time these fibers that are loose can alter or damage the cells that make up these tiny linings, which could lead to mesothelioma's development.

Despite this, mesothelioma does not affect every person who is exposed. Researchers believe that other aspects can affect whether a person gets mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This includes a person's gender and age as well as their family history of mesothelioma or other illnesses, and whether they are afflicted with other risk factors, such as smoking.

Mesothelioma is more likely to develop in men than women. This could be due to the fact that men were more likely than women to have been exposed directly to asbestos in the workplace. Additionally, it takes between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to develop after a person's first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having an infected gene. In a study looking at two families with high levels of mesothelioma, researchers discovered that almost everyone in the family was affected by a defective gene located on their short arm of the chromosome 3. The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates how calcium moves within cells. A defective gene can disrupt this process and causes calcium levels to fall. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

A mutated gene can also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. People who have this mutation have lower levels of white blood cells which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.

Other factors that can raise the risk of mesothelioma in a person are the type of asbestos they were exposed to as well as their job. The polio vaccine, which was administered to children between 1940 and 1950, may also increase a person's mesothelioma risk by exposure to cancer-causing SV40.