Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
The people who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of ingesting or inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers penetrate the lining of the chest cavity or abdomen, referred to as the peritoneum and pleura.
The exposure to asbestos increases the chance of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, or peritoneal cancer throughout your life. While the risk does appear to decrease after 40 years of exposure, even the smallest exposure to asbestos is risky.
Age
The older the person is exposed to the environment, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects mesothelium, which is a thin layer of tissue around the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they grow out of control and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma typically affects people who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be due to their work or as a close family member.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, as it irritates mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the linings of the lungs, but it can also affect the abdomen's lining, peritoneum and the lining of the heart.
Asbestos is a non-porous and long-lasting mineral. It was utilized in insulation, construction and other industrial applications prior to the 1980s. During this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through their jobs or being near loved ones who were exposed to asbestos.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into air. They can be inhaled and they're too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers can cause irritation and cancer in the lungs if they get stuck.
Mesothelioma symptoms typically do not show up until years after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to other cancers and can be fatal if not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma more than women. It is also more often diagnosed among those over 45. Those who are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma because asbestos exposure at work include ship builders, miners, railroad workers and those who handled or installed products made with asbestos. Family members of these individuals are also at higher risk since asbestos could be absorbed into their clothing.
Smoking
The chances of a person developing mesothelioma increase the longer they're exposed to asbestos. This is due to the lengthy latency period that can last between 20 to 60 years from the first exposure until diagnosis. Depending on the type of asbestos, an individual's mesothelioma may occur in different parts of the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lung's lining cavity and chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining of the abdomen and is also known as the peritoneum.
Most of the time, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma in the chest or lung. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding, and construction sectors are the most at risk. However, mesothelioma may develop in people who were exposed to asbestos at home or at school. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed employees can carry asbestos-containing particles from their workplace home and smear them on their clothes, skin, and hair. This puts them at risk.
Mesothelioma sufferers are usually white and over the age of 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or a military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military have used asbestos extensively due to its properties to resist flames, and millions of veterans may have been exposed to asbestos.
When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to multiply without a limit. This could lead to the formation of tumors that later grow into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body however it is most common in the chest and abdomen.
Smoking cigarettes does not cause mesothelioma. However, it may increase the risk of developing this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that one breathes. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should think about quitting smoking.
A person's treatment plan for mesothelioma must also include a doctor who is well-versed in asbestos exposure and risk factors. A specialist in mesothelioma who is knowledgeable on their side can help them determine the best approach to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will be able determine whether a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is utilized in many different products such as insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, manufacture or work on asbestos-containing products are at high risk for exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to illness and cancer.
Many asbestos-related illnesses are not discovered until it's too late due to a long time period between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most deadly of asbestos-related illnesses, is no exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 year after asbestos exposure.
The most frequent way that people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and automotive mechanic jobs all require handling or using asbestos components and materials. However, workers can be exposed to asbestos through home activities, like smoking or renovation of older homes that contain asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the main mesothelioma causing agent. Asbestos fibers inhaled can enter the lungs and cause irritation to the lining known as the pleura. This irritation can lead to the formation of thickened patches on the pleura (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses, it can cause fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and eventually lung cancer. El Paso asbestos lawyers 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 at work. However, those with the family history of mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of exposure to asbestos is increased if someone has worked in more than one job over the course of their life. Smoking does increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can also aggravate the condition for those already diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if you have a history of asbestos exposure and are suffering from mesothelioma. It will also allow you to live longer and improve the results of your treatment. It is essential to inform your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new signs, such as shortness of breath or abdominal pain, because they can treat the disease by undergoing surgery or medication.
Genetics
Many cancers have a genetic connection that means a person's genes increase the likelihood of developing a particular disease. Mesothelioma, however, does not have a genetic component. Exposure to asbestos is the primary factor.
Asbestos fibers can get into the body through swallowing or inhalation and adhere to the linings of the abdomen, chest or the heart. Over time these fibers that are loose can damage or mutate the cells that compose these tiny linings, which can lead to mesothelioma development.
Despite this, not every person who is exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors could determine if a person develops mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos. This could include a person's gender and age as well as their family history of mesothelioma or other diseases and whether they have other risk factors, such as smoking.
Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be because men were more likely than women to have been exposed directly to asbestos in the workplace. Mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos.
Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having a faulty gene. In the study of two families with mesothelioma incidences that were high, scientists found that nearly all members of the family carried an abnormal gene on their short arm chromosome 3. This gene, called BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium inside cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process, causing calcium levels to fall. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.
A mutated gene can also increase the chance of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. People with this gene mutation have lower levels of white blood cells which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.
The type of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and their occupation can also increase the mesothelioma-related risk. Additionally the polio vaccine that was given to children in the 1940s and 1950s could increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person by exposing them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.