Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

People who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. These fibers pierce the wall of the abdomen and chest cavity, called the pleura or the peritoneum.

Exposure to asbestos can result in a lifetime risk of malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Even though the risk seems to decrease after 40 years, exposure to asbestos of any kind can be dangerous.

Age

The older a person gets at the time of exposure the more likely they will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects mesothelium which is a thin layer of tissue that surrounds major organs in the body. The cancerous cells expand in uncontrolled ways and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in those who have been exposed to asbestos, either in their work or as a member of someone who was exposed to it.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma due to irritation of the 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 heart lining.

Asbestos is a highly resistant and durable mineral. It was utilized in construction, insulation and other industrial applications until the 1980s. During this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos as a result of their jobs or being near loved ones who were exposed to asbestos.

When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers into the air. They are too hard for the body's systems to break them down or process. The fibers could get stuck in the lungs, causing irritation that can lead to cancer.

The signs of mesothelioma are usually not show up until decades after asbestos case exposure. The symptoms are similar to other cancers, and may be fatal if treated.

Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than women. It is also most often diagnosed for those who are older than 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and those who handled asbestos-containing items are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to asbestos exposure in the workplace. The asbestos in the clothing of these individuals could expose their families to risk.

Smoking

A person's chances of getting mesothelioma increases the longer they're exposed to asbestos. This is due to the long time of latency that can last between 20 and 60 years from initial exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma can be found in various parts of the body, based on the type and quantity of asbestos present. The lining of the chest wall and the lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develop abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.

Most often, people who have been exposed develop mesothelioma in the chest or the lungs. People who worked in the shipbuilding, power generation 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. This is due to the fact that children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos can take the fibers into their clothes, skin and hair, which puts them at risk as well.

Mesothelioma patients are typically white and older than 65. They are also more likely to hold a blue-collar position or a military background. Asbestos was extensively used by the United States Navy and other branches of the military due to its resistance to flames. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA mutations occur, they can cause cells to multiply unchecked. This results in the development of tumors that eventually turn into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body but is most prevalent in the abdomen and chest.

Smoking cigarettes can cause mesothelioma, but it can increase your risk by increasing the amount asbestos you breathe in. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider abstaining from smoking cigarettes.

A person's treatment plan for mesothelioma must also include a physician who is well-versed in asbestos exposure and risk factors. A Mesothelioma Case expert can assist determine the best treatment for this rare cancer. The doctor can determine whether the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is used in a variety of products like flooring, roofing, and insulation. Anyone who works with asbestos-containing products and manufacture them, or work with them are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to illness and cancer.

Many asbestos diseases are not recognized until it is too late due to a long time period between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most hazardous asbestos-related illness. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.

The most common method by which people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. All jobs that involve asbestos handling or usage include those in manufacturing, construction automotive mechanics, as well as electrical. However, individuals can also be exposed to asbestos by home activities, like smoking cigarettes or the renovation of older homes that have asbestos.

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

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in those who have been exposed to asbestos legal while at work. People with a history of family members or mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. A person's risk is also increased if they were exposed to asbestos in multiple positions throughout their life. Smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma however it can make the disease worse for those who have already been diagnosed. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos claim and are suffering from mesothelioma quitting smoking can prolong your life and improve the treatment outcome. Inform your doctor if have been exposed to asbestos or if you experience any new symptoms like abdominal pain or a shortness of breathing. They may prescribe medication or operate to treat the condition.

Genetics

Many cancers have a genetic connection, which means that genetic factors can increase their chances of getting a specific 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 adhere to the tissues of the abdomen, chest or heart. Over time these fibers that are loose can damage or mutate the cells that comprise these small linings, which can lead to mesothelioma development.

However there is a chance that not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors can affect the likelihood of developing mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This could include a person's age and gender as well as their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases, and whether they have additional risk factors, such as 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 while at work. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having a faulty gene. In a study of two families with mesothelioma incidences that were high scientists discovered that almost every member of the family carried an abnormal gene on their short arm chromosome 3 This gene is called BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves through cells. When a gene is not functioning properly this process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This allows asbestos to turn healthy cells into cancerous cells and cause mesothelioma.

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

The type of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and their occupation can also increase a person's mesothelioma-related risk. The polio vaccine, given to children between 1940 and 1950, may also increase a person's mesothelioma risk by exposing them the cancer-causing SV40.