Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The chance of developing mesothelioma increases when exposed to asbestos. It's unclear whether the risk decreases after exposure ends.

A mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers become stuck in the lung's lining (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are various kinds of mesothelioma. They include:

Age

A person's chances of getting mesothelioma depend on several factors. This includes the age of their initial exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos used and the duration of the exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms typically begin in the lungs before spreading to other body parts. Therefore, those who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are more likely to develop this disease. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the abdomen's lining the peritoneum, are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The more severe mesothelioma is, the older the person who is diagnosed. This is due to the 20-60 year latency time between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with fibrous bundles which can form into thin sheets or clump together to create an impermeable substance. Between the 1930s and 1980s its durability and flexibility made asbestos a sought-after material. During this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos via occupational or secondary exposure. Workplace exposure occurs when employees are exposed to asbestos in their work. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos attorney fibers are carried home on hair, clothing or skin, and then inhaled by family members.

When inhaled, asbestos fibers irritate the lining of the lungs and other organs such as the heart. Over time this irritation may cause scarring, inflammation and mutation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Mesothelioma is predominantly a cancer of pleura which is the tissue that surrounds the lungs. However, it may also affect other organs, such as the stomach and heart.

People with a blue-collar, military or background are more likely to be exposed asbestos as they work in specific industries or in the military. However, those who have been exposed to asbestos (click the next page) in their homes or from other sources can also be at risk.

People with the BAP1 mutation also have a higher likelihood of developing mesothelioma. These individuals are usually diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

Gender

Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma more than women. This is likely because men worked in industries more susceptible to asbestos exposure. Men could also have brought home the asbestos fibers on their clothes from work places. Asbestos is usually found in factories and mines which produce asbestos products such as insulation, pipes tiles, cement and tiles most at risk of developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has also been observed in those who built or repaired automotive and railroad products, as well as those who built ships and manufactured gas masks. Exposure to chrysotile, the most well-known type of asbestos, is generally related to mesothelioma.

The likelihood of developing mesothelioma is increased with the duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos. Most mesothelioma cases occur in people who have been exposed to asbestos for a period of 30 or more years. The time of a person's latency can differ based on their gender and type of asbestos exposure.

It is unclear the reason women have a longer mesothelioma recurrence. One reason is that many of the women who develop mesothelioma worked as domestic workers and could have come in contact with asbestos through washing the clothes of their fathers, husbands and brothers.

In the past, when mesothelioma was more prevalent, asbestos was used in a wide variety of commercial and domestic building materials. The fibers were present in insulation, drywall paint, pipe coating and cement. Many of these products were used in workplaces and homes where asbestos was frequently disturbed by renovations or construction.

While mesothelioma was employed as an industrial product, asbestos was found in many types of buildings, including schools, hospitals, churches and offices. A lot of these structures were constructed prior to the 1980s which was when asbestos was banned.

Asbestos is a complex substance, and researchers continue to study its effects on health, particularly mesothelioma. Studies are looking at how asbestos affects both the lungs and the digestive tract, which is the area where mesothelioma most commonly affects patients. They are also investigating whether different factors might influence mesothelioma rates, such as gender and exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is more likely to develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure working in an industry where asbestos was utilized for a long time. Asbestos was extensively used in construction and building in the 1920s until the 1980s. Numerous jobs were susceptible to exposure, such as mining, manufacturing power generation, shipbuilding and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is an naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is resistant to heat and strong making it ideal in a variety of products. The fibers of asbestos are used in insulation, brake pads and roofing, among other things. When asbestos is cut or disturbed it releases tiny particles that can be ingested or inhaled.

It can be diagnosed earlier than 60 years of age. It can occur in the lungs, the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma pleural), or the abdomen.

People who have mesothelioma-related family history are also more likely to develop the disease, though it's not known why. Mesothelioma is linked to a mutation in the gene BAP1 however it's not a common.

A person is also at risk for mesothelioma if they grew up with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos attorney fibers to their clothing or hair, skin or even the hair. This is referred to as secondary exposure. People who work in industries that have high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home fibers on their footwear and clothing. They can be breathed in or ingested by family members at home.

Asbestosis, which is a lung condition to mesothelioma is often the result of breathing in asbestos fibers. Asbestosis typically develops in the lungs, and can lead to fluid buildup around the ribcage and cause breathing difficulties, a cough, chest pain, and an ribcage lump.

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world, mainly because asbestos was widely used in Australia for a long time in construction manufacturing, mining and manufacturing. A doctor first reported the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which led England to adopt laws regulating asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations forced businesses to install ventilation equipment as well as other safety equipment.

Smoking

Like many types of cancer, mesothelioma can be caused when cells receive faulty genetic information and multiply without checking. When these cells are in the lung (pleura) or abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or in the heart (pericardium), they can cause abnormal growths, referred to as tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma. However there are a variety of factors that can increase the risk of getting the disease.

Asbestos exposure is a major mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers that are inhaled into the lungs irritate the lung's lining as well as the chest wall, which can cause mesothelioma. The people who are exposed to asbestos while at work have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who were not exposed. The type of asbestos the person was exposed to is also a significant factor. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs and a individual's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos poses a greater risk of mesothelioma than amphiboles such as amosite or crocidolite.

Mesothelioma can also be a risk factor for a person if they have a family history. Mesothelioma is not common in children and younger adults, but it can develop in young adults if they were around an adult who was exposed to asbestos. People who live with a mesothelioma-related illness or who has mesothelioma have an increased chance of developing the disease because they can inhale asbestos fibers on clothing, skin and hair.

The type of job a person performed can also impact the risk of developing mesothelioma. Those who worked on ships, power plants or other locations where asbestos was used have a higher mesothelioma risk than those who were not exposed to asbestos. People who worked in certain industries, such as manufacturing and construction, also have a higher rate of mesothelioma than others.

The age, gender and race of a person could affect their mesothelioma. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to women, as are those who have an ancestral history of the disease. This is due to the fact that women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries, and men typically were more likely than others to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.