Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

The people who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of ingesting or inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers can penetrate the tissue of the chest cavity and abdomen which is called the pleura or the peritoneum.

Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal cancer throughout your lifetime. Even though the risk seems to decrease after 40 years of exposure, asbestos exposure of any kind is a risk.

Age

The older a person is exposed to the environment, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that surrounds major organs in the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they grow out of control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma usually affects those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could happen through their work or by being a close family member.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma due to irritation of the mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is the most affected in patients suffering from mesothelioma of the pleural region, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the lining of the heart (pericardium).

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, is durable and heat resistant. It was widely used in construction, insulation and other industrial applications until the 1980s. During 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 into the air. These can be inhaled, and they are too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers can cause irritation and cancer in the lungs if they get stuck.

The symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not appear for decades after asbestos exposure. 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 in people older than 45. Miners, shipbuilders, railroad workers, and others who handled asbestos-containing items are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to workplace asbestos exposure. Family members of these individuals are also at a higher risk because the asbestos can be found on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer someone is exposed to asbestos, the greater their risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long latency period which can last between 20 and 60 years from the time of exposure until diagnosis. Depending on the type of asbestos, a patient's mesothelioma may occur in different parts of the body. The wall of the chest and the lung cavity (the pleura) is afflicted by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining of the abdomen also known as the peritoneum.

Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos most often develop mesothelioma that is found in their chests or lung. Most at risk are those working in shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in people who were exposed to asbestos in their homes or at school. Children and spouses of Asbestos legal-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 patients are usually white and older than 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or military history. The United States Navy and other branches of the military used asbestos extensively because of its properties to resist flames, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma can form when a person's DNA undergoes alterations, causing cells to multiply uncontrolled. This may lead to formation of tumors that later grow into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, however the majority of cases occur in the chest or abdomen.

Smoking cigarettes does not cause mesothelioma, but it may increase the risk of developing this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos one breathes. Anyone who has been exposed asbestos should quit smoking cigarettes.

Furthermore, a person's mesothelioma treatment program should include an experienced doctor who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and the risk factors that can cause this cancer. Having an experienced mesothelioma specialist on their side can help them determine the best way to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will determine if the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is used in a variety of different products such as insulation, roofing and flooring. Anyone who works with asbestos-containing products, manufacture them or work with them face a significant chance of being exposed. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can lead to breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs, which can cause illness and cancer.

Many asbestos-related illnesses are not diagnosed until it's too late due to a long time period between exposure and the onset of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most hazardous asbestos-related illness. The symptoms of mesothelioma may develop between 20 and 60 years after asbestos lawyer exposure.

The most frequent way that people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. All jobs that involve asbestos lawyer handling or use, including those in manufacturing, construction automobile mechanics, construction, and electrical. However, people can also be exposed to asbestos through home activities, like smoking cigarettes or the renovation of older homes that have asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos particles that are inhaled can travel into the lungs and irritate the lining called the pleura. This irritation can lead to 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 lining of other organs, including the heart and abdomen.

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in those who have been exposed to asbestos while working. People with a family history or mesothelioma or other asbestos litigation-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of a person being diagnosed with asbestos attorney is higher if they've been exposed to asbestos in multiple jobs during their lifetime. Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can worsen the condition for those already diagnosed. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and have mesothelioma symptoms quitting smoking can prolong your life and improve the outcome of your treatment. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or experience any new symptoms such as abdominal pain or difficulty to breathing. They may prescribe medication or operate to treat the disease.

Genetics

Many cancers are linked to genetics, which means that genetic factors can increase their chances of developing a particular illness. But mesothelioma itself does not have any genetic component. The exposure to asbestos is the primary factor.

Asbestos fibers may enter the body via inhalation or swallowing and stick to the tissues of the chest, abdomen or heart. Over time these fibers that are loose can damage or mutate the cells that compose these small linings, which can lead to mesothelioma's development.

Despite this it is not the case that every person exposed to asbestos law will develop mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors could influence whether someone develops mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This could include a person's gender and age, their family history of mesothelioma and other illnesses, and whether they have other risk factors such as smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This is because men were more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos at work. It can take between 20 and 60 years for mesothelioma to develop following the first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma is a defective gene. In the study of two families with mesothelioma incidences that were high, scientists found that almost every member of the family had a defective gene on the short arm of chromosome 3 The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves inside cells. With a faulty gene this process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This allows asbestos to turn healthy cells into cancerous cells and cause mesothelioma.

A mutated gene can also increase the chance of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. People with this mutated gene have a lower percentage of white blood cells, which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.

Other factors that increase a person's chance of mesothelioma are the kind of asbestos they were exposed to and their job. In addition the polio vaccine that was given to children in the 1940s and 1950s may increase the risk of mesothelioma by exposing them to cancer-causing SV40 virus.