Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

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

Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, or peritoneal cancer over the course of your life. While the risk does appear to diminish after more than 40 years of exposure, even minimal exposure to asbestos is risky.

Age

The older a person is when exposed, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects mesothelium which is a thin layer of tissue that surrounds major organs in the body. The cancerous cells expand rapidly and create tumors. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in people who were exposed to asbestos either in their work or as a family member of someone who was exposed to it.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, as it irritates mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma is most commonly found in the linings of the lungs, but it can also affect the linings of the abdomen, peritoneum and the lining of the heart.

Asbestos is a non-porous and durable mineral. It was utilized in insulation, construction and other industrial applications until the 1980s. In this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos due to their jobs or because they were close to an exposed loved one.

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

The signs of mesothelioma are usually not manifest for a long time after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar with other cancers, and may be fatal if not treated.

Mesothelioma affects men more often than women, and is most often diagnosed in those who are over 45. Shipbuilders, miners, railroad workers, and others who work with asbestos case-containing products are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to workplace asbestos exposure. The asbestos on the clothing of these people can put their family members at risk.

Smoking

The longer an individual is exposed to asbestos, the higher their risk of developing mesothelioma. This is because of the long time of latency that can last between 20 and 60 years from first exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma can occur in different parts of the body, based on the type and quantity of asbestos present. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining between the lung cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal lining, also known as the peritoneum.

Most often, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma of the chest or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding, and construction industries are most at risk. 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 bring fibers from the workplace home and smear them on their clothes hair, skin, and. This puts them at risk.

People with mesothelioma are typically white and over 65. They are more likely to have had an occupation with a blue collar or military background. Asbestos was extensively used by the United States Navy and other branches of the military because of its flame-resistant qualities. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma can form when a person's DNA undergoes mutations that cause cells to multiply unchecked. This can lead to the development of tumors that eventually grow into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, but typically, it is found in the abdomen or chest.

Smoking cigarettes does not cause mesothelioma, but it may increase the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that one breathes. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider abstaining from smoking cigarettes.

The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should also include a physician who is familiar with asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma expert can assist determine the best treatment option for this rare cancer. The doctor will be able determine whether a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that naturally occurs, is used in a variety of items like roofing, flooring, and insulation. People who work with asbestos-containing materials make them, or manufacture them, or work with them are at a greater risk of being exposed. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers could lead to breathing them into the lungs, where they cause illness and cancer.

There is a long time of latency between the exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms which makes it difficult to recognize the various asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most deadly of asbestos diseases, is no exception. The symptoms of mesothelioma may develop between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.

The most frequent way that people are exposed to asbestos settlement is through occupational exposure. All jobs that involve asbestos handling or usage include those in manufacturing, construction, automotive mechanics, and electrical. The risk of exposure to asbestos is also present to asbestos through home activities like smoking or renovating older homes that have asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the most common mesothelioma causing agent. As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lungs, where they irritate the lining known as the pleura. This irritation leads to the development of thickened patches on the pleura (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses, it could result in the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma may also affect the linings of other organs such as the heart and abdomen.

Mesothelioma is most common in those who have been exposed to asbestos working. People with a family history or mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are also at risk. The risk of asbestos exposure is increased if a person has had more than one job in the course of their life. Smoking cigarettes does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can make the condition worse for those who have been diagnosed. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and are suffering from mesothelioma quitting smoking can make you healthier and improve your treatment outcome. It is essential to inform your doctor about your exposure to asbestos (My Web Page) and any new symptoms, like breathlessness or abdominal pain, because they can treat the disease by using medication or surgery.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically linked which means that a person's genes may increase the chance of them getting a particular disease. Mesothelioma, however, does not have a genetic component. Instead asbestos exposure is the primary factor.

asbestos law fibers can get into the body through swallowing or inhalation, and then stick to the linings of the abdomen, chest or heart. These loose fibers can damage the cells that form these tiny linings over time. This can result in mesothelioma.

However it is not the case that every person exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors can determine if a person develops mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos. This could include a person's age and gender and their family history of mesothelioma or other diseases and whether they are afflicted with other risk factors such as 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 to asbestos at work. Also, it takes between 20 and 60 years for mesothelioma develop following the first exposure to asbestos.

A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study that looked at two families with high levels of mesothelioma, researchers discovered that nearly every member of the family had a defective gene located on their short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, called BAP 1 regulates the flow of calcium inside cells. If the gene is defective this process is disrupted and calcium levels drop. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and trigger mesothelioma.

Mutations in a gene can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. The mutation results in the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

Other factors that increase a person's chance of mesothelioma include 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, can also increase the risk of mesothelioma by exposing them the cancer-causing SV40.