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 tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, referred to as the pleura and peritoneum.
The exposure to asbestos increases the lifetime risk of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneal or pleural regions. Although the risk is believed to diminish after more than 40 years of exposure, even minimal exposure to asbestos is risky.
Age
The more senior a person is when they are exposed, the more likely they will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium - an extremely thin layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, which means they grow out of control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in people who were exposed to asbestos either through their own job or as a member of someone who was exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma due to irritation of the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lungs' linings but it can also affect the linings of the abdomen and peritoneum, as well as the lining of the heart.
Asbestos is a non-porous and long-lasting mineral. It was used in construction, insulation and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. In this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos as a result of their jobs or by being close to an exposed loved one.
When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers in the air. They are too tough for the body's system to break down or process. The fibers can be trapped in the lungs and cause irritation that may lead to cancer.
The symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not show up until decades after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to those of other types of cancer but they can also be fatal if not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than women. It is also most often diagnosed in people older than 45. People who are at highest chance of developing mesothelioma as a result asbestos exposure in the workplace include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and others who handled or installed products made of asbestos. Family members of these individuals are also at a higher risk due to the fact that asbestos can get on their clothing.
Smoking
The longer an individual is exposed to asbestos, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the lengthy latency time that can range between 20 and 60 years from the time of exposure until diagnosis. Depending on the kind of asbestos, a patient's mesothelioma could be found in various areas of the body. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lining between the lung cavity and chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma can be found in the lining of the abdomen, also known as the peritoneum.
Most often, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma of the chest or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding and construction industries are most at risk. However, mesothelioma may be found in people who were exposed to asbestos in their homes or at school. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers may carry asbestos fibers from the workplace to their homes on their clothes, skin, and hair. This puts them at risk.
Mesothelioma patients are typically white and older than 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or military history. The United States Navy and other branches of the military have used asbestos extensively because of its properties to resist flames, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma may develop when a person's DNA undergoes mutations that cause cells to multiply without control. This may lead to development of tumors that eventually become mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body but is most common in the chest and abdomen.
Smoking cigarettes can cause mesothelioma, but it increases your risk by increasing the amount asbestos you breathe in. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should think about abstaining from smoking.
Additionally, a person's mesothelioma therapy plan should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors for this type of cancer. A mesothelioma specialist can help determine the best treatment option for this rare cancer. The specialist will be able to determine if a patient is eligible for experimental treatments or immunotherapy.
Pearland asbestos attorney is a mineral that occurs naturally that is found in a variety of items, such as roofing, flooring, and insulation. Anyone who works with asbestos-containing products and manufacture them, or work with them face a significant risk of being exposed. Exposure to asbestos fibers can result in breathing them into the lungs, which can cause illness and cancer.
Many asbestos-related diseases aren't diagnosed until it's too late because there is an extended period of time between exposure and the onset of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most dangerous asbestos-related illness. The symptoms of mesothelioma may develop between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.
Exposure to occupational hazards is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. Manufacturing, construction, electrical and auto mechanic jobs all require the handling of asbestos-containing parts and materials. However, individuals can also be exposed to asbestos through home activities, such as smoking or renovation of older homes that have asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos particles that are inhaled can enter the lungs and cause irritation to the pleura, the lining of the lungs. This irritation can result in thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis within the lung. As the disease advances, it could cause fluid to accumulate in the chest cavity and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the linings of other organs such as the heart and abdomen.
People who are exposed to asbestos in their work are at a higher chance of developing mesothelioma. People with a history of family members or mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk for a person is increased if they were exposed to asbestos in multiple jobs throughout their life. Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can also aggravate the condition for those already diagnosed. If you have an history of exposure to asbestos and experience mesothelioma quitting smoking can prolong your life and improve the outcome of your treatment. Tell your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or if you notice any new symptoms such as abdominal pain or difficulty to breathing. They may prescribe medication or perform surgery to treat the condition.
Genetics
Many cancers are genetically related, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the likelihood of them getting a particular disease. However, mesothelioma does not have a genetic component. The exposure to asbestos is the most important cause.
Asbestos fibers can get into the body through swallowing or inhalation and adhere to the tissues of the abdomen, chest or the heart. As time passes these fibers that are loose can alter or damage the cells that make up these linings. This can result in mesothelioma development.
Despite this, mesothelioma does not affect all people who are exposed. Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether a person develops mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This includes the person's age, gender, family history of mesothelioma, and other illnesses, as and any other risk factors, such as smoking.
Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be due to the fact that more males than females were directly exposed to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos.
A faulty gene is another risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study of two families with high mesothelioma rates, scientists found that nearly all members of the family had a defective gene on their short arm chromosome 3 This gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates how calcium moves through cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process and causes calcium levels to fall. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.
A mutated gene can also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. People with this gene mutation have a lower level of white blood cells which are the cells that fight off cancerous cells.
The kind of asbestos to which an individual was exposed as well as their work can also increase a person's mesothelioma-related risk. The polio vaccine that was given to children between 1940 and 1950, may also increase a person’s mesothelioma risk by exposure to cancer-causing SV40.