Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

The people who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of inhaling or inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers penetrate the lining of the chest cavity and abdomen and are known as the pleura or peritoneum.

The exposure to asbestos increases the chance of developing malignant pleural mysothelioma or peritoneal cancer throughout your life. Even though the risk seems to diminish after 40 years, exposure to asbestos of any kind is dangerous.

Age

The older a person gets when they are exposed, the more likely they are to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue around important organs in the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they grow out of control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma typically affects people who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be through their work or by being a close family member.

Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma because it irritates the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is most affected in people with pleural mesothelioma, although it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the heart lining (pericardium).

Asbestos is a highly resistant and long-lasting mineral. It was used in construction, insulation and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. In the 1980s many millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos as a result of their work or living near loved ones who were exposed to asbestos.

When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into air. They are too tough for the body's system to break them down or process. The fibers can be trapped in the lungs, causing irritation that leads to cancer.

Mesothelioma symptoms typically do not manifest until a long time 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 diagnosed most often among those over 45. Shipbuilders, miners, railroad workers, cassylawn and others who work with asbestos-containing products are at the most chance of developing mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The asbestos on the clothing of these people could expose their families to risk.

Smoking

The chance of developing mesothelioma rises the longer they're exposed asbestos. This is due to the lengthy time of latency, which can be between 20 and 60 years from first exposure until diagnosis. Depending on the type of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma could be found in various areas of the body. The wall of the chest and the lung cavity (the pleura) is afflicted by mesothelioma pleural. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develop abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.

People who have been exposed to asbestos most often develop mesothelioma in their chest or lungs. The most at risk are those working in shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to be found in people who were exposed to asbestos at home or at school. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos may take the fibers home on their clothes hair, skin and even their hair which puts them at risk as well.

Mesothelioma patients are typically white and older than 65. They are more likely to have 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 ability to withstand flames. Millions of veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA changes occur, they may cause cells to multiply unchecked. This leads to the formation of tumors that eventually develop into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body, but it is most common in the chest and abdomen.

Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma, but it can increase the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that one breathes. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should quit smoking cigarettes.

Additionally, a person's mesothelioma therapy plan should include a doctor who understands asbestos exposure and the risk factors associated with this type of cancer. A specialist in mesothelioma who is knowledgeable on their side can help them determine the best way to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will be able determine whether a patient is suitable for experimental treatments or immunotherapy.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is used in many different products such as flooring, insulation, roofing and flooring. People who work with asbestos-containing materials make them, or manufacture them, or work with them are at a greater risk of being exposed. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can cause illness and cancer.

There is a long time of latency between the exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma, the most dangerous of asbestos-related diseases is not an exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.

Exposure to occupational hazards is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and auto mechanic jobs all require handling or using asbestos components and materials. People can also be exposed through activities at home like smoking or renovating older homes that have asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the main mesothelioma-related cause. As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lungs, where they irritate a lining called the pleura. This irritation leads to the development of thickened patches on the pleura (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses it may cause fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately to lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs including the abdomen and heart.

People who are exposed to asbestos while at work are at the greatest chance of developing mesothelioma. People with a family history or mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of asbestos exposure is higher if one has held more than one job over the course of their lives. Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of mesothelioma but it can worsen the condition for those who are already diagnosed. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and experience mesothelioma quitting smoking can make you healthier and improve the outcome of your treatment. It is essential to inform your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new signs, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, because they can treat the condition by undergoing surgery or medication.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically related and a person's genes may increase the chance of developing a specific disease. However, mesothelioma doesn't have a genetic component. Exposure to asbestos is the most important reason.

Asbestos fibers enter the body by being inhaled or swallowed, and then clinging to the lining of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). These loose fibers can damage the cells that comprise these tiny linings over time. This can result in mesothelioma.

However there is a chance that not everyone who is exposed to asbestos gets mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors could determine if a person develops mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This includes the person's age, gender, family history of mesothelioma and other diseases, as and any other risk factors such smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be due to the fact that more males than females were exposed directly to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos.

A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study of two families with high mesothelioma risk, scientists found that almost every member of the family had an abnormal gene on their short arm chromosome 3 This gene is called BAP 1 and regulates how calcium moves within cells. A faulty gene disrupts this process and causes calcium levels to decrease. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

A gene that is mutated can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. This mutated gene results in an increase in white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

Other factors that increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person include the kind of asbestos they were exposed to as well as their job. Additionally, the polio vaccine given to children in the 1940s and cassylawn 1950s may increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person by exposing them to cancer-causing SV40 virus.