Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
People who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers. These fibers penetrate the tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, also known as the peritoneum and pleura.
Exposure to asbestos confers a lifetime risk of malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Although the risk appears to diminish after 40 years of exposure, asbestos exposure of any kind is a risk.
Age
The more senior a person is when they are exposed, the more likely they will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue around the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they grow out of control and form tumors. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos either through their own work or as a member of someone who was exposed to asbestos.
Exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma due to the irritation of the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the linings of the lungs, but it can also affect the abdomen's lining, peritoneum and the heart lining.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral is strong and heat resistant. It was used for construction as well as insulation and other industrial purposes until the 1980s. During this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their jobs or being near loved ones who were exposed to asbestos.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into air. These can be inhaled, and they're too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers could cause irritation and even cancer in the lungs when they get stuck.
Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not show up until decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to those of other cancers, and they can be fatal if not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma more than women. It is also more often diagnosed for those who are older than 45. Those who are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma because asbestos exposure in the workplace include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and others who worked with or installed products made with asbestos. Family members of these individuals are also at greater risk because the asbestos can be absorbed into their clothing.
Smoking
The longer someone is exposed to asbestos, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. This is because of the lengthy latency period that can last between 20 to 60 years from the first exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma can occur in different parts of the body, based on the type and amount of asbestos present. Pleural mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining between the lung cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the abdomen's lining, also known as the peritoneum.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos most often develop mesothelioma that is found in their chests or lung. The most at risk are those working in shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in individuals who were exposed to asbestos in their homes or at school. This is due to the fact that children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos could bring the fibers home on their clothes hair, skin and even their hair which puts them at risk as well.
Mesothelioma patients tend to be white and older than 65. They are also more likely to hold a blue-collar position or military background. Asbestos was used extensively by the United States Navy and other branches of the military because of its resistance to flames. Millions of 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 develop into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body however it is most prevalent in the abdomen and chest.
Smoking is not a cause of 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 quitting smoking cigarettes.
In addition, a mesothelioma therapy plan should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors for this type of cancer. A mesothelioma expert can assist 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 natural mineral that is utilized in many different products including flooring, roofing, and insulation. Workers who handle, manufacture or work with asbestos-containing products are at high risk for exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can cause cancer and illness.
Many asbestos-related illnesses are not discovered until it's too late due to a long latency period between exposure and the onset of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most hazardous asbestos-related illness. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.
Occupational exposure is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. Any job that involves asbestos handling or usage include those in manufacturing, construction automobile mechanics, construction, and electrical. However, workers can be exposed to asbestos by home activities, such as smoking or renovation of older houses that contain asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the most frequent cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos particles that are inhaled can enter the lungs and irritate the pleura, the lining of the lungs. This irritation can lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plates) and fibrosis within the lung. As the disease progresses, it may cause to the accumulation of fluid within the chest cavity and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissues of other organs, such as the heart and abdomen.
Mesothelioma is most common in those who have been exposed to asbestos while working. However, those with a family history of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are at risk as well. The risk of exposure to asbestos is higher if one has held more than one job over the course of their life. Smoking cigarettes doesn't increase the likelihood of mesothelioma but it can make the condition worse for those who have already been diagnosed. If you have had a history of exposure asbestos and have mesothelioma symptoms quitting smoking can help you live longer and improve the treatment outcome. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or if you experience any new symptoms like abdominal pain or a shortness of breathing. They can prescribe medication or operate to treat the disease.
Genetics
Many cancers are genetically linked, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the likelihood of getting a particular disease. Mesothelioma however does not have a genetic component. Instead asbestos exposure is the main reason.
Asbestos fibers enter the body by being inhaled or swallowed, and they stick to the chest's lining (the pleura), the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). As time passes these fibers that are loose can alter or damage the cells that make up these linings. This could lead to mesothelioma's development.
However, not every person who is exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors could influence whether someone develops mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. This includes the person's age and gender as well as their family history of mesothelioma and other illnesses, 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 directly exposed to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos.
Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having a faulty gene. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, scientists found that nearly everyone in the family had a defective gene on their short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, known as BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium inside cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process and causes calcium levels to fall. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones, causing mesothelioma.
Additionally Gainesville asbestos attorneys within the immune system of a person can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos. 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 mesothelioma-related risk. The polio vaccine, given to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase a person's mesothelioma risk by exposure to cancer-causing SV40.