Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of ingesting asbestos fibers. The fibers penetrate the tissue of the chest cavity and abdomen, called the pleura or peritoneum.

Exposure to asbestos confers a lifetime risk of malignant, pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Although the risk is believed to decrease after more than 40 years of exposure, even a small amount of asbestos exposure can be dangerous.

Age

The older a person is when exposed, the higher the risk of developing 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 multiply in uncontrolled ways and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is most often seen in those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be through their work or as a close family member.

Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma due to irritation of the mesothelium. The lung’s lining (pleura) is most affected in people with mesothelioma of the pleural region, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the heart lining (pericardium).

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, is durable and heat resistant. It was used in insulation, construction and other industrial applications prior to the 1980s. In the 1980s, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their work or living near an asbestos-exposed loved one.

When asbestos law – view, is disturbed, it releases fibers into air. They can be breathed in, and they’re too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers may be trapped in the lungs, causing irritation that leads to cancer.

Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not appear for decades after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to other cancers, and may be fatal if not treated.

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

Smoking

A person’s chances of getting mesothelioma increase the longer they’re exposed asbestos. This is due to the long time of latency, which can be between 20 and 60 year from first exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma may occur in different parts of the body, based on the type and quantity of asbestos. The lining of the chest wall and the lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma can be found in the abdomen’s lining also known as the peritoneum.

Most often, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma in the chest or the lungs. People who worked in the shipbuilding, power generation and construction sectors are the most at risk. However, mesothelioma can also be found in people who were exposed to asbestos in their homes or at school. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos may take the fibers into their clothes, skin and hair, which can put them at risk as well.

Mesothelioma patients are usually white and older than 65. They are more likely to have had an occupation with a blue collar or military background. Asbestos was widely used by the United States Navy and other branches in the military because of its flame-resistant qualities. Millions of veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA changes occur, they may cause cells to multiply without a limit. This can lead to the growth of tumors which eventually become mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body but is most prevalent in the abdomen and chest.

Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma. However, it can increase the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos people breathe in. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos law should think about abstaining from smoking cigarettes.

In addition, a mesothelioma treatment program should include an experienced doctor who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and the risk factors for this type of cancer. Having an experienced mesothelioma specialist with them can help them determine the best approach to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will determine whether the patient is suitable for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is utilized in many different products, including insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, manufacture or work with asbestos lawsuit-containing products are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can lead to breathing them into the lungs which can cause illness and cancer.

Many asbestos diseases are not recognized until it is too late because there is an extended period of time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma one of the most hazardous of asbestos diseases is not an exception. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 year after asbestos exposure.

Exposure to occupational hazards is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. All jobs that require asbestos handling or use, including those in construction, manufacturing, automotive mechanics, and electrical. However, individuals can also be exposed to asbestos through home activities, like smoking cigarettes or renovating older houses that contain asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled can 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 lungs. As the disease progresses it could cause fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs such as the abdomen and the heart.

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 also at risk. The risk of asbestos exposure is increased if someone has held more than one job over the course of their life. Smoking can increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can worsen the condition for those who are already diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if you have had a history of asbestos exposure and suffer from mesothelioma. It will also allow you to live longer and enhance the results of your treatment. It is important to tell your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new signs, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, because they can treat the disease with medication or surgery.

Genetics

Many cancers are linked to genetics that means a person’s genes increase the likelihood of getting a specific disease. Mesothelioma, however not have a genetic component. In fact asbestos exposure is the primary factor.

Asbestos fibers enter the body via inhalation or swallowed, and then clinging to the chest’s lining (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). Over time these fibers that are loose can cause damage or alteration to the cells that make up these small linings, which can lead to the development of mesothelioma.

However, mesothelioma may not affect all people who are exposed. Researchers believe that other aspects can determine if a person develops mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. This includes age, gender, family history of mesothelioma, and other diseases, as well as any additional risk factors, such as smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be due to the fact that men were more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos while at work. Also, it takes between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma develop following the first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having an infected gene. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, researchers discovered that nearly every member of the family had a defective gene on their short arm of the chromosome 3. The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves within cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process and causes calcium levels to drop. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

Mutations in a gene can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This mutated gene causes the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

The kind of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and the work they performed can also increase the risk of mesothelioma. The polio vaccine, which was administered to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase the risk of mesothelioma by exposure to cancer-causing SV40.