Mesothelioma Causes Other Than Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the tissue that lines the lungs, chest wall, abdomen and other organs. People who contract this disease usually worked on jobs where they were exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos is a group of minerals that make strong microscopic fibers. It was used in automotive and construction products because it resists heat, fire and water.

Occupational Exposure

Asbestos is a natural mineral that was extensively used to protect against fire before it was banned in the 1970s. The people who worked with asbestos whether they mined it or handled it in factories, are at risk of mesothelioma. The people who are at the highest risk are those who were exposed to large quantities of microscopic asbestos lawyer fibers for extended periods of time. Mesothelioma symptoms generally don't manifest until decades after exposure to asbestos. This is why the majority of mesothelioma cases are attributed to occupational asbestos exposure.

When asbestos is disturbed, its tiny fibers are released into the air and can be inhaled or swallowed. The fibers could be transported to the thin layer of tissue that covers organs. This layer is known as the mesothelium and it can develop cancerous mesothelioma tumors. Pleural mesothelioma forms around the lung and is the most prevalent form of mesothelioma. Other mesothelioma types include peritoneal mesothelioma, forming in the abdomen and pericardial mesothelioma developing around the heart.

Mesothelioma may also form in other areas of the body if asbestos is inhaled or consumed less frequently. It can also develop in the testicles' linings and the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma is usually the result of mesothelium damage which is why it's difficult to determine if it was caused by occupational exposure or a different cause.

Certain mesothelioma patients have been diagnosed with the disease due to contact with asbestos from the outside. This is sometimes called take-home exposure. It occurs when asbestos is ingested on workers' clothing or equipment. In these instances, workers' clothing is frequently cleaned and washed by their families, resulting in a higher risk of exposure than was expected. Certain studies have shown that the use of a similar asbestos called erionite can increase the risk of mesothelioma in those who live near erionite deposits.

Chemotherapy and radiation are both treatments that increase your likelihood of developing mesothelioma. These treatments can damage the mesothelium and lead to mesothelioma, however they do not account for a significant proportion of cases.

Secondhand Exposure

Other factors can increase the risk of mesothelioma. Genetics, radiation therapy history to the chest, and exposure to radiation from secondhand sources are all factors that could increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. A mesothelioma-related family history can increase the chance of contracting the disease. However, asbestos remains the most common mesothelioma cause.

People who work directly with asbestos are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma. This is especially relevant for those working in manufacturing, construction shipbuilding, asbestos attorney mining and other related industries. People who work with asbestos often inhale tiny asbestos fibers when they break or disturb the material. The asbestos fibers can end up in the lining of the stomach, lungs and the heart. The asbestos can remain in the body for a long time, causing malignant mesothelioma tumors to develop.

Inhaling and swallowing these fibers may cause peritoneal, pleural, or other forms of mesothelioma. The symptoms can develop anywhere between 30 to 50 years after exposure. To determine if mesothelioma is a cancer doctors must first rule out other conditions which could be the cause of the patient's symptoms.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause pleural mesothelioma, the most prevalent form of cancer. It is believed that the risk for mesothelioma in this form decreases after a person's asbestos exposure has ended. However, the risk for mesothelioma of the peritoneal region continues to increase even after exposure to asbestos has ended.

Asbestos is a class of six naturally occurring fibrous metamorphic minerals. It is extremely robust and resistant to heat and fire which makes it a popular choice for military, industrial and commercial applications throughout the 20th century. Asbestos was heavily used from the end of World War II through to the mid 1970s, and it was often found in ship, buildings automobile parts, and insulation.

Workers who used to handle or inhale asbestos were the most likely group to have developed mesothelioma. However, some people have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and have no occupational history of exposure to asbestos. These individuals were exposed to asbestos by other methods. For instance, a lot of wives of husbands who worked with asbestos brought home asbestos legal fibers on their clothing and skin. People who received the polio vaccine during the 1950s and 1960s have been shown to be at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma because of the contamination of the polio vaccine asbestos.

Environmental Exposure

While asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma but there are a variety of other factors that may contribute to the development of. This could include age, gender or genetics. People with an inherited predisposition or other health issues are at higher risk of developing mesothelioma than those who are not.

The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is responsible for most mesothelioma cases. Workers who have long-term, constant exposure to asbestos, like shipyard or miners workers, are at highest risk. However, many people with mesothelioma did not work directly with asbestos. The risk of exposure to asbestos can be exacerbated when someone lives with a person who worked with asbestos and breathed in asbestos fibers. This type of exposure is common among spouses of workers who handled asbestos.

The symptoms of mesothelioma can be seen over time, and they may differ depending on the type of cancer a person is. Everyone should be aware of the dangers they face and speak to your doctor if they notice any symptoms that are unusual or alarming.

Asbestos exposure can cause three kinds of mesothelioma: the pericardial, peritoneal and pleural. The lungs are affected by pleural mesothelioma and organs in the abdominal cavity are affected by peritoneal as well as the pericardial. The most commonly diagnosed mesothelioma type is pleural, which usually forms in the lungs. However, peritoneal and pericardial cancers can develop in the abdominal cavity.

Researchers have discovered that other substances can also cause mesothelioma. These include erionite, a mineral similar to asbestos, and radiation therapy. A virus known as SV40 and certain varieties of talcum powder can also trigger mesothelioma.

The study of the causes of mesothelioma can help doctors make diagnoses faster and accurately. This allows patients with mesothelioma to receive treatment earlier and better their outcomes. It is also essential to understanding other mesothelioma risk factors so that we can to prevent mesothelioma cases from occurring in the near future. For instance, the use of talcum powder may result in more women developing mesothelioma of the peritoneal region. Through educating the public about mesothelioma we can cut down the number of people who are diagnosed with the disease. This is important since mesothelioma may have symptoms that may be delayed by up to 50 years.

Genetics

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is recommended to consult a physician. Early treatment gives patients the best chance of surviving. While asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma however, research continues to uncover other risk factors like talcum powder and SV40. Knowing and avoiding these risk factors can help prevent more cases mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a class of fibrous minerals that were utilized extensively throughout the 20th century for various commercial, industrial and military applications. Its strength and fire-resistant characteristics made it popular among manufacturers. However, the dangers of asbestos were discovered and documented by researchers, resulting in its phase out. The people who were exposed to asbestos while at work are at risk of developing mesothelioma. These people include miners, factory workers, asbestos insulation manufacturers and railroad workers, installers auto makers, ship builders and others who worked with or wore clothes contaminated with asbestos.

Inhaled asbestos fibers settle in the lung's lining (the pleura) and are irritated and eventually develop tumors. Symptoms typically take years to show up, but by the time they show mesothelioma is already in advanced. The symptoms include breathing difficulties and chest pain, or heaviness, and fluid accumulation in the lung.

Mesothelioma is caused by cancerous mutations of cells. These are caused by asbestos exposure, however many researchers believe that the genes of a person can also play a role. Researchers have discovered a gene known as BAP 1 on the short arm of chromosome Three which causes mesothelioma studying mesothelioma epidemics in two U.S. families with Swiss origins. Every member of the family who developed mesothelioma had this mutation.

Genetics is only one aspect of the mesothelioma equation however it is an important one. Only a small percentage of people who experience asbestos exposure develop mesothelioma, which suggests that the person's genes may also be at play. Most mesothelioma patients have mutated tumor suppressing genes. As the research advances the genes will be examined and understood better to stop mesothelioma from developing. It is also possible that those with a genetic predisposition will have to be more cautious about asbestos exposure and will need regular screening for mesothelioma signs.