Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of ingesting asbestos fibers. The fibers are absorbed into the lining of the chest cavity or abdomen, also referred to as the peritoneum and pleura.

The exposure to asbestos increases the lifetime risk of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneal or pleural regions. Although the risk appears to decrease after 40 years of exposure, even minimal asbestos legal exposure is dangerous.

Age

The older a person gets at the time of exposure, the more likely they will develop 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 grow rapidly and create tumors. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos, either in their work or as a member of someone who was exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, as it irritates mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is the most affected by mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the lining of the heart (pericardium).

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral is strong and heat resistant. It was used in construction as insulation, construction, and for other industrial uses up to the 1980s. In the 1980s millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos as a result of their jobs or being near someone who was exposed to asbestos.

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

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

Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than females. It is also diagnosed most often in people older than 45. The people who are at most chance of developing mesothelioma as a result asbestos exposure at work include ship builders, miners railroad workers, and those who have handled or installed items made of asbestos. The asbestos found on the clothing of these people could put their family members at risk.

Smoking

The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the greater the risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to 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 patient's mesothelioma could be found in various parts of the body. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lung's lining cavity and chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal lining, also known as the peritoneum.

Most of the time, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma that affects the chest or lung. The most at risk are those working in shipbuilding, power production and construction. Mesothelioma can also be a risk for those who were exposed at home or at 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 sufferers are usually white and over the age of 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar job or military history. The United States Navy and other branches of the military used asbestos extensively due to its flame-resistant properties, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to it.

When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to grow uncontrolled. This leads to the formation of tumors that eventually develop into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, but typically, it is found in the chest or abdomen.

Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma. However, it increases the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos an individual inhales. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should think about stopping smoking cigarettes.

Additionally, a person's mesothelioma treatment plan should involve an expert in asbestos litigation exposure and the risk factors for this cancer. A mesothelioma expert can help determine the best treatment for this rare cancer. The doctor will determine whether the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

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

Many asbestos diseases are not recognized until it is too late due to an extended period of time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most dangerous asbestos-related illness. The symptoms of mesothelioma may develop between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.

The most common way people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. All jobs that require asbestos handling or use include those in construction, manufacturing automotive mechanics, as well as electrical. People can also be exposed to asbestos settlement through home activities, such as smoking, or renovating older homes that contain asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos fibers inhaled may travel into the lungs and cause irritation to the lining known as the pleura. This irritation can lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis in the lungs. As the disease progresses, it may result in the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the lining of other organs, including the heart and abdomen.

Mesothelioma is most common in those who have been exposed to asbestos working. However, those with a family history of mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of exposure to asbestos is increased if someone has held more than one job in the course of their lives. Smoking does increase the risk of mesothelioma but it can also aggravate the disease for those already diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if have had an asbestos-related exposure in the past and are suffering from mesothelioma. It will also allow you to live longer and improve the outcome of your treatment. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or have any new symptoms, like abdominal pain or difficulty to breathing. They can prescribe medication or perform surgery to treat the condition.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically related, meaning that a person’s genes can increase the chances of developing a specific disease. Mesothelioma, however not have a genetic component. Exposure to asbestos is the most important cause.

Asbestos fibers may enter the body via swallowing or inhalation, and then stick 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 compose these tiny linings, which can lead to the development of mesothelioma.

However, mesothelioma may not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether someone develops mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. This includes the person's age and gender, their family history of mesothelioma or other diseases, and whether they are afflicted with other risk factors such as smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be due to the fact that more men than women were exposed directly to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos attorney.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having a faulty gene. In a study that looked at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, scientists found that nearly every person in the family was affected by a defective gene on their short arm of chromosome 3. This gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves through cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process, causing calcium levels to drop. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

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

The kind of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and the work they performed can also increase a person's risk of developing mesothelioma. In addition 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 the cancer-causing SV40 virus.