Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure The people who use products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers. The fibers penetrate the lining of the chest cavity and abdomen which is also known as the pleura, or peritoneum. Exposure to asbestos can increase the chance of developing malignant pleural mysothelioma or peritoneal cancer over the course of your life. Although the risk is believed to decrease after 40 years, exposure to asbestos of any kind can be dangerous. Age The older the person is when exposed, the greater the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is a thin layer of tissue that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells expand in uncontrolled ways and [[https://www.cassylawn.top/8d0z-5nssg5-xbmz2wf-6y9jj78-n2w50-2195/|Cassy Lawn]] develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is most often seen in those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be through their work or by being a close family member. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma due to irritation of the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most affected by mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum as well as the heart lining (pericardium). Asbestos is a heat-resistant and durable mineral. It was used in construction as insulation, construction, and [[https://www.cassylawn.top/g1il9u3-kwlm96c-2w7mej-ps3zu-dw3-1609/|cassylawn]] other industrial applications up to the 1980s. During this period many millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos due to their jobs or by being close to a loved one. When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers in the air. They can be breathed in, and they are too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers can become stuck in the lungs and cause irritation that can lead to cancer. The symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not show up until decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to other cancers, and may be fatal without treatment. Mesothelioma is more common in men than women, and is most often diagnosed in people over age 45. Those who are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma because asbestos exposure at work include miners, ship builders, railroad workers and those who worked with or installed products that contain asbestos. The asbestos on the clothing of these people could put their family members at risk. Smoking The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long latency time that can last between 20 to 60 years from the first exposure to diagnosis. Depending on the type of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma can occur in various 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 abdomen's lining and is also known as the peritoneum. Most often, those who have been exposed to radiation develop mesothelioma in the chest or the lungs. People who worked in the shipbuilding, power generation and construction industries are the most at risk. However, mesothelioma is also able to be found in people who were exposed to asbestos at home or in school. This is due to the fact that children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos can carry the asbestos fibers to their clothing hair, skin and even their hair which can put them at risk as well. Mesothelioma patients tend to be white and older than 65. They are more likely to have had a blue-collar occupation or military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military utilized asbestos extensively due to its ability to withstand flames. millions of veterans may have been exposed to it. Mesothelioma can develop when an individual's DNA undergoes alterations which cause cells to multiply uncontrolled. This causes the development of tumors, which eventually transform into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body, but it is most common in the abdomen and [[https://www.cassylawn.top/hf4-8zx1b-qj97w-0grdpuz-s4iu1-2422/|cassylawn]] ([[https://www.cassylawn.top/jb36le-mc76-k6r6w-4tld-nc1-2205/|https://www.cassylawn.top]]) chest. Smoking cigarettes does not cause mesothelioma, but it increases the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos an individual inhales. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should quit smoking cigarettes. A person's treatment plan for mesothelioma must also include a physician who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma specialist who is experienced on their side can help them determine the best way to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will be able to determine if a patient is eligible for experimental treatments or immunotherapy. Asbestos Exposure Asbestos is a mineral that naturally occurs is used in a variety of products, such as flooring, roofing, and insulation. People who work with asbestos-containing materials make them, or manufacture them, or work with them are at a high risk of exposure. The exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to breathing them into the lungs, which can cause illness and cancer. There is a long time of latency between the exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most deadly of asbestos diseases is not an exception. Symptoms of mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos. The most frequent way that people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. All jobs that involve asbestos handling or use, including those in manufacturing, construction, automotive mechanics, and electrical. Some people are also exposed to asbestos through home activities, such as smoking, or renovating older homes that contain asbestos. Most mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos particles that are inhaled can enter the lungs and cause irritation to the pleura, the lining of the lungs. This irritation can lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis within the lung. As the disease progresses it can lead to the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs such as the abdomen and the heart. People who are exposed to asbestos at 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 of a person being diagnosed with asbestos is increased if they were exposed to asbestos at multiple times throughout their life. Smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can make the illness worse for those who have already been diagnosed. If you have an history of exposure to asbestos and have mesothelioma symptoms quitting smoking can make you healthier and improve the treatment outcome. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or notice any new symptoms like abdominal pain or a shortness of breathing. They can prescribe medication or undergo surgery to treat the disease. Genetics Many cancers are genetically related, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the chance of getting a particular disease. Mesothelioma, however, does not have a genetic component. Instead, exposure to asbestos is the primary factor. Asbestos fibers may enter the body through swallowing or inhalation, and then stick to the tissues of the abdomen, chest or the heart. As time passes the loose fibers could damage or mutate 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 other factors can affect the likelihood of developing mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This includes the person's gender, age, and family history of mesothelioma and other diseases as and any other risk factors like smoking. Mesothelioma is more likely to develop in men than women. This could be due to the fact that more men than women were exposed to asbestos directly at work. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop between 20 and 60 years after the first exposure to asbestos. A faulty gene is a second risk factor for mesothelioma. In an investigation of two families with high mesothelioma risk scientists discovered that nearly all members of the family had a defective gene on the short arm of chromosome 3 This gene, dubbed BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium within cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process and causes calcium levels to drop. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma. Mutations in a gene can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. The mutated gene causes the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells. The type of asbestos to which a person was exposed and their occupation can also increase a person's mesothelioma-related risk. Additionally the polio vaccine that was given to children in the 1940s and 1950s may increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person by exposing them to cancer-causing SV40 virus.