Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
Anyone who uses products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers are absorbed into the chest cavity's lining or abdomen, referred to as the peritoneum and pleura.
Exposure to asbestos confers a lifetime risk of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneal or pleural regions. Although the risk appears to decrease after 40 years of exposure, asbestos exposure of any kind is a risk.
Age
The older a person gets at the time of exposure, the more likely they are to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the mesothel a thin layer surrounding the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they grow out of control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in people who were exposed to asbestos either through their own work or as a family member of someone who was exposed to asbestos.
Exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma because it irritates the mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is the 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 naturally occurring mineral is strong and heat-resistant. It was used in construction as well as insulation and for other industrial uses up to the 1980s. During this time millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos through their work or by being around someone who was exposed to asbestos.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into air. These 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 if they get stuck.
The signs of mesothelioma are usually not show up until decades after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar with other cancers, and may be fatal if not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than women. It is also more often diagnosed for those who are older than 45. Shipbuilders, miners, railroad workers, and people who installed or handled asbestos-containing products are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma due to workplace asbestos exposure. The asbestos on the clothing of these workers could expose their families to risk.
Smoking
A person's chances of getting mesothelioma rises the longer they are exposed to asbestos. This is due to the long latency time, which can take between 20 to 60 years from the first exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma can be found in various parts of the body, based on the type and quantity of asbestos present. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lung's lining cavity and chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.
Most often, people who have been exposed develop mesothelioma in the chest or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding, and construction sectors are the most at risk. However, mesothelioma is also able to be found in people who were exposed to asbestos at home or in school. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers may carry asbestos fibers from the workplace home and smear them on their clothes, skin, and hair. This puts them at risk.
Mesothelioma sufferers are usually white and over 65. They are also more likely to hold a blue-collar position or military history. Asbestos was widely used by the United States Navy and other branches of the military because of its resistance to flames. Millions of veterans were exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma may develop when DNA of an individual undergoes mutations that cause cells to multiply uncontrolled. This causes the development of tumors, which then develop into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body but is most prevalent in the abdomen and chest.
Smoking does not cause mesothelioma. However, it may increase the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos people breathe in. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider stopping smoking.
The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should include a physician who is well-versed in 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 mineral that occurs naturally is used in a variety of items including roofing, flooring and insulation. Workers who handle, make or work with asbestos-containing materials are at high risk for exposure. The exposure to asbestos fibers could lead to breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs, where they can cause illness or cancer.
There is a long period of time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms which makes it difficult to diagnose many asbestos-related diseases. Surprise asbestos lawyers is the most hazardous asbestos-related illness. Mesothelioma symptoms can appear between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
Exposure to occupational hazards is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and automobile mechanic jobs all require handling asbestos-related parts and materials. The risk of exposure to asbestos is also present to asbestos through home activities such as smoking or renovating older homes that have asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the most frequent mesothelioma-related cause. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled may travel into the lungs and cause irritation to the lining known as the pleura. This irritation can cause thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis in the lung. As the disease progresses, it may cause to the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs including the heart and abdomen.
People who are exposed to asbestos at work are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma. People with a history of family members or mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses are also at risk. The risk of asbestos exposure is higher if one has worked in more than one job in the course of their lives. Smoking can increase the risk of mesothelioma however, it can also worsen the disease for those already diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if have had an exposure to asbestos in the past and are suffering from mesothelioma. It will also allow you to live longer and enhance the outcome of your treatment. It is important to tell your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new symptoms, such as shortness of breath or abdominal pain, since they can treat the disease by undergoing surgery or medication.
Genetics
Many cancers are linked to genetics which means that genetic factors increase the likelihood of developing a particular illness. However, mesothelioma doesn't have a genetic component. Exposure to asbestos is the most important cause.
Asbestos fibers can enter the body through swallowing or inhalation and adhere to the tissues of the chest, abdomen or heart. These fibers that are loose can cause damage to the cells that form these small linings over time. This can lead to mesothelioma.
However, mesothelioma may not affect all people who are exposed. Researchers believe that other factors could determine if a person develops mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. This includes the person's gender and age and their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases and whether they have other risk factors like smoking.
Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be because men were more likely than women to have been directly exposed asbestos at work. 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 an investigation of two families with mesothelioma incidences that were high scientists discovered that nearly all members of the family had a defective gene on the short arm of chromosome 3 This gene, dubbed BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium inside cells. When a gene is not functioning properly the process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones, causing mesothelioma.
A gene that is mutated can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. People who have this mutation have a lower level of white blood cells which are the cells that fight off cancerous cells.
The kind of asbestos to which a person was exposed and the work they performed can also increase a person's risk of developing mesothelioma. The polio vaccine, which was administered to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase a person’s risk of mesothelioma by exposure to cancer-causing SV40.