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, known as the pleura or peritoneum.

Exposure to asbestos can result in a lifetime risk of malignant, mesothelioma of the peritoneal or pleural regions. Although the risk is believed to diminish after 40 years, exposure to asbestos of any kind is a risk.

Age

The older a person gets when they are exposed the more likely they are to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium, a thin layer surrounding the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant. This means that they expand beyond control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in people who were exposed to asbestos either in their job or as a member of someone who was exposed to it.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is most affected in people with mesothelioma pleural, but 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 widely used in insulation, construction and other industrial applications prior to the 1980s. During this time millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos through their jobs or being near loved ones who were exposed to asbestos.

When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air. They are too tough for the body's systems to break them down or process. The fibers could cause irritation and even cancer in the lungs if they become stuck.

Mesothelioma symptoms usually do not show up until years after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar with other cancers and can be fatal if treated.

Mesothelioma affects men more often than women, and is most commonly diagnosed in those who are over 45. Miners, shipbuilders, railroad workers, and people who work with asbestos-containing products are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma due to workplace asbestos exposure. Family members of these people are also at greater risk because the asbestos can be found on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer someone is exposed to asbestos, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long time of latency which can range from 20 to 60 years from the first exposure to diagnosis. Depending on the type of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma may occur in different regions of the body. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lining between the lung cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining of the abdomen, also known as the peritoneum.

People who have been exposed to asbestos most often develop mesothelioma in their chest or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding and construction industries are most at risk. Mesothelioma is also a possible risk for those who were exposed at home or in school to asbestos. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos could carry the asbestos fibers home on their clothes hair, skin, and skin which can put them at risk as well.

The majority of mesothelioma patients are white and over 65. They are more likely to have an occupation with a blue collar or military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military utilized asbestos extensively because of its properties to resist flames, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma can form when an individual's DNA undergoes alterations that cause cells to multiply unchecked. This leads to the formation of tumors, which then turn into mesothelioma. The disease can affect any part of the body, but the majority of cases occur in the abdomen or chest.

Smoking cigarettes can cause mesothelioma, but it increases your risk by increasing the amount asbestos you inhale. Anyone who has been exposed asbestos should quit smoking.

The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should include a doctor who is well-versed in asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma expert can assist determine the best treatment option for this rare cancer. The doctor can determine whether the patient is suitable for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is used in many different products including insulation, roofing and flooring. People who work with asbestos-containing materials and manufacture them, or work with them face a significant risk of exposure. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers could lead to breathing them into the lungs where they can cause illness or cancer.

Many asbestos-related diseases aren't discovered until it's too late due to an extended period of time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma, the most dangerous of asbestos-related diseases is not an exception. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 year after exposure to asbestos.

The most frequent way that people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and auto mechanic jobs all require handling or using asbestos components and materials. However, individuals can also be exposed to asbestos through at-home activities, such as smoking cigarettes or the renovation of older homes that have asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to the lung, where they can cause irritation to a lining called the pleura. This irritation can lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis in the lung. As the disease progresses it could cause fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately to lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the lining of other organs, such as the abdomen and the heart.

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in those who have been exposed to asbestos working. But people who have the family history of mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of a person being diagnosed with asbestos is increased if they have been exposed to asbestos at multiple times over their lifetime. Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of mesothelioma but it can worsen the condition for those who are already diagnosed. If you have had a history of exposure asbestos and have mesothelioma symptoms, quitting smoking can help you live longer and improve the outcome of your treatment. Inform your doctor if have been exposed to asbestos or if you notice any new symptoms like abdominal pain or shortness of breathe. They may prescribe medication or undergo surgery to treat the disease.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically linked and a person's genes can increase the chances of them getting a particular disease. However, mesothelioma doesn't have an element of genetics. The exposure to asbestos is the primary factor.

Asbestos fibers can enter the body via inhalation or swallowed and sticking to the lining of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). These loose fibers can harm the cells that form these tiny linings over time. This could lead to mesothelioma.

However there is a chance that not everyone who is exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other aspects can affect whether a person gets mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. This includes age, gender, family history of mesothelioma, and other diseases, as well as any additional risk factors such smoking.

Mesothelioma is more likely to be found in males than females. This may be because more men than women were exposed to asbestos directly at work. Additionally, it takes between 20 and 60 years for mesothelioma be diagnosed following a person's initial exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for YouTube mesothelioma is a defective gene. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that nearly every member of the family had a defective gene on the short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, called BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium within cells. A defective gene can disrupt this process and causes calcium levels to fall. This enables asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma attorneys.

A gene that is mutated can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma as a result of mission asbestos lawsuit exposure. The mutated gene results in a decrease in white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

The type of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and their occupation can also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. The polio vaccine that was given to children between 1940 and 1950, can also increase the risk of mesothelioma by exposure to cancer-causing SV40.