Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
People who use products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers. The fibers penetrate the lining of the abdomen and chest cavity which is known as the pleura or the peritoneum.
The exposure to asbestos increases the lifetime risk of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneal or pleural regions. Although the risk is believed to decrease after more than 40 years of exposure, even minimal asbestos exposure can be dangerous.
Age
The more senior a person is at the time of exposure the more likely they will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects mesothelium which is a thin layer of tissue surrounding major organs in the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they expand beyond control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in people who were exposed to asbestos either through their own job or as a member of someone who worked with asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is the most affected by mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the lining of the heart (pericardium).
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, is durable and heat-resistant. It was utilized for construction as well as insulation and for other industrial uses until the 1980s. In the 1980s, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through their jobs or being near an asbestos-exposed loved one.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into air. They can be inhaled and they are too tough for the body to break down or process. Simi Valley asbestos lawyer could cause irritation and even cancer in the lungs if they become stuck.
Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not appear for decades after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar with other cancers, and may be fatal if treated.
Mesothelioma affects men more often than women, and is most often diagnosed in people over age 45. People who are at highest chance of developing mesothelioma as a result of workplace asbestos exposure include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and those who worked with or installed products made of asbestos. Family members of these individuals are also at greater risk because the asbestos can get on their clothing.
Smoking
The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the greater their risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long latency period which can last between 20 and 60 years from the time of exposure until diagnosis. Depending on the kind of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma may occur in different parts of the body. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lung's lining cavity and chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develop abdominal lining, called the peritoneum.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos are most often develop mesothelioma in their chests or the lungs. The most at risk are those who worked in the fields of shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in people who were exposed to asbestos at home or in school. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers may carry asbestos fibers from the workplace home on their clothing hair, skin, and. This puts them at risk.
Mesothelioma patients tend to be white and older than 65. They are also more likely to hold a blue-collar position or a military background. Asbestos was used extensively by the United States Navy and other branches in the military due to its resistance to flames. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma can develop when an individual's DNA undergoes alterations which cause cells to multiply unchecked. This could lead to the formation of tumors that later grow into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, however typically, it is found in the chest or abdomen.
Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma, but it increases the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that one breathes. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should think about quitting smoking.
Furthermore, a person's mesothelioma therapy plan should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors that can cause this cancer. A mesothelioma expert can help determine the best treatment for 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 used in a variety of different products, including insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, manufacture or work with asbestos-containing materials are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can lead to breathing them into the lungs where they can cause illness or cancer.
There is a long time of latency between the exposure to asbestos and the first signs of symptoms, which makes it difficult to recognize many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most deadly asbestos-related disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.
Occupational exposure is the most common way that people are exposed. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and automobile mechanic jobs all require handling or using asbestos parts and materials. However, individuals can also be exposed to asbestos through home activities, like smoking or renovation of older houses that contain asbestos.
Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to the lungs, where they irritate the lining known as the pleura. This irritation can cause thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis within the lung. As the disease progresses, it may result in the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the linings of other organs like the heart and abdomen.
People who are exposed to asbestos in their work are at the greatest risk for developing mesothelioma. But people who have a family history of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are at risk as well. The risk of asbestos exposure is increased if a person has held more than one job in 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 an history of exposure to asbestos and have mesothelioma symptoms quitting smoking can make you healthier and improve your treatment outcome. It is crucial to inform your doctor about the exposure to asbestos as well as any new signs, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, as they can treat the disease by undergoing surgery or medication.
Genetics
Many cancers are genetically related which means that a person's genes may increase the chance of getting a particular disease. Mesothelioma, however not have a genetic component. In fact exposure to asbestos is the main cause.
Asbestos fibers can enter the body through inhalation or swallowed, and then clinging to the chest's lining (the pleura), the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). These loose fibers can harm the cells that make up these small linings over time. This can result in mesothelioma.
However, mesothelioma does not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors could influence whether a person develops mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This includes gender, age, gender, family history of mesothelioma and other illnesses, as in addition to any other risk factors, such as smoking.
Mesothelioma is more likely to be found in men than women. This could be due to the fact that men were more likely than women to have been exposed directly to asbestos at work. It can take between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to be diagnosed following a person's initial exposure to asbestos.
A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study looking at two families with high levels of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that almost every person in the family had a faulty gene on the short arm of chromosome 3. This gene, called BAP 1 regulates the flow of calcium within cells. When a gene is not functioning properly, this process is disrupted and calcium levels drop. This allows asbestos to turn healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.
Additionally an mutated gene in the immune system of a person can increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. The mutated gene causes the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.
Other factors that could increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person are the kind of asbestos they were exposed to and their job. The polio vaccine that was given to children between 1940 and 1950, can also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma through exposed to the cancer-causing SV40.