Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of inhaling or inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers penetrate the tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, also known as the pleura and peritoneum.
The exposure to asbestos litigation increases the lifetime risk of malignant mesothelioma that is peritoneal or pleural. Although the risk appears to diminish after more than 40 years of exposure, even the smallest asbestos exposure is dangerous.
Age
The older the person is when exposed, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium - an elongated layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they grow out of control and form tumors. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in those who have been exposed to asbestos either through their own work or as a member of someone who worked with asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the linings of the lungs however, it may also affect the abdomen's lining, peritoneum and the heart lining.
Asbestos is a non-porous and long-lasting mineral. It was used in the construction industry, insulation and other industrial applications prior to the 1980s. In the 1980s millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos as a result of their work or by being around someone who was exposed to asbestos.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers in the air. They are too hard for the body's systems to break them down or process. The fibers can cause irritation and even cancer in the lungs when they get stuck.
Mesothelioma symptoms typically do not show up until years after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to those of other types of cancer, and they can be fatal if not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma more than women. It is also diagnosed most often for those who are older than 45. People who are at most risk of developing mesothelioma because of workplace asbestos exposure include ship builders, miners railroad workers, and others who handled or installed products made of asbestos. The asbestos on the clothing of these workers could put their family members at risk.
Smoking
A person's chances of getting mesothelioma increases the longer they are exposed to asbestos. This is due to the lengthy latency period, which can take between 20 to 60 years from the first exposure to the disease until it is diagnosed. Depending on the kind of asbestos, an individual's mesothelioma can occur in various regions of the body. The lining of the chest wall and the lung cavity (the pleura) is afflicted by mesothelioma pleural. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develop abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.
Most often, those who have been exposed to radiation develop mesothelioma that affects the chest or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding and construction sectors are the 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 can take the fibers home on their clothes hair, skin and even their hair which puts them at risk as well.
People with mesothelioma are typically white and over the age of 65. They are also more likely to hold a blue-collar position or a military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military have used asbestos extensively due to its flame-resistant properties, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma can develop when a person's DNA undergoes mutations that cause cells to multiply without control. This can lead to the formation of tumors that later grow into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, but most often it occurs in the abdomen or chest.
Smoking does not cause mesothelioma. However, it can increase the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that one breathes. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider abstaining from smoking.
Additionally, a person's mesothelioma treatment plan should involve an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors that can cause this cancer. A specialist in mesothelioma who is knowledgeable on their side can help them determine the best approach to treat this rare cancer. The specialist will be able to determine if a patient is eligible for experimental treatments or immunotherapy.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is used in a variety of items including flooring, roofing, and insulation. Workers who handle asbestos-containing materials and manufacture them, or work with them face a significant chance of being exposed. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can lead to breathing them into the lungs where they can cause illness or cancer.
There is a long period of time between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose many asbestos diseases. Mesothelioma, the most dangerous of asbestos-related diseases is not an exception. Symptoms of mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
Occupational exposure is the most frequent way in which people are exposed. Construction, manufacturing, electrical and automotive mechanic jobs all involve handling asbestos-related components and materials. However, people can also be exposed to asbestos through at-home activities, such as smoking cigarettes or renovating older homes that have asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the main mesothelioma causing agent. Asbestos fibers inhaled may travel into 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 in the lung. As the disease progresses, it can lead fluid to accumulate in the chest cavity and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissues of other organs such as the heart and abdomen.
Mesothelioma is most common in people who have been exposed to asbestos while working. People with a history of family members or mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related illnesses are also at risk. The risk of a person being diagnosed with asbestos is higher if they've been exposed to asbestos in multiple positions throughout their life. Smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma however it can make the disease worse for those who have been diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if you have had a history of asbestos exposure and suffer from mesothelioma. It can also allow you to live longer, and improve the outcome of your treatment. Inform your doctor if have been exposed to asbestos legal or if you experience any new symptoms like abdominal pain or difficulty to breathe. They may prescribe medication or perform surgery to treat the disease.
Genetics
Many cancers have a genetic link that means genetic factors increase the likelihood of developing a particular illness. Mesothelioma however does not have a gene component. The exposure to asbestos is the primary cause.
Asbestos fibers are introduced into the body via inhalation or swallowed and sticking to the lining of the chest (the pleura) and the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). As time passes the loose fibers could cause damage or alteration to the cells that comprise these small linings, which could lead to mesothelioma development.
However, mesothelioma does not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors could influence whether a person develops mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This includes the person's gender and age as well as their family history of mesothelioma or other diseases, and whether they are afflicted with other risk factors like smoking.
Mesothelioma is more likely to be found in males than females. This could be due to the fact that more males than females were exposed to asbestos directly at work. It can take between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to develop following the first exposure to asbestos.
A faulty gene is a second risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study looking at two families with high levels of mesothelioma, scientists found that almost every member of the family was affected by a defective gene located on the short arm of chromosome 3. This gene, called BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium within cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process, causing calcium levels to decrease. This allows asbestos to turn healthy cells into cancerous cells and cause mesothelioma.
A mutated gene can also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. The mutated gene causes the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.
The kind of asbestos to which a person was exposed and the work they performed can increase a person's risk of mesothelioma. In addition, the polio vaccine given to children in the 1940s and 1950s could increase the risk of mesothelioma by exposing them to cancer-causing SV40 virus.