Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
People who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of breathing in or eating asbestos fibers. These fibers can penetrate the tissue of the chest cavity and abdomen, known as the pleura or the peritoneum.
Exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, or peritoneal cancer throughout your lifetime. Although the risk is believed to diminish after 40 years of exposure, asbestos exposure of any kind can be dangerous.
Age
The older a person is when exposed, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium - an extremely thin layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells expand in uncontrolled ways and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is most often seen in those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be due to their work or by being a close family member.
Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. League City asbestos attorneys lining of the lungs (pleura) is the most affected in patients suffering from mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum, as well as the heart lining (pericardium).
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is strong and heat-resistant. It was used in construction as well as insulation and other industrial applications until the 1980s. During this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their jobs or by being close to a loved one.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air. These can be inhaled, and they're too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers may be trapped in the lungs and cause irritation that can lead to cancer.
The signs of mesothelioma are usually not manifest for a long time after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to those of other cancers and can be fatal if not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than females. It is also diagnosed most often for those who are older than 45. Shipbuilders, miners, railroad workers, and people who installed or handled asbestos-containing products are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Family members of these people are also at higher risk due to the fact that asbestos can be absorbed into their clothing.
Smoking
The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the higher their risk of developing mesothelioma. This is because of the lengthy latency period, which can take between 20 to 60 years from the first exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma can occur in different parts of the body, based on the type and quantity of asbestos present. The chest wall's lining and the lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the abdomen's lining and is also known as the peritoneum.
Those who have been exposed to asbestos are most often develop mesothelioma in their chests or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding, and construction industries are most at risk. However, mesothelioma may develop in individuals who were exposed to asbestos at home or in school. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos may bring the fibers to their clothing hair, skin and even their hair which can put them at risk as well.
The majority of mesothelioma patients are white and over the age of 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 utilized asbestos extensively because of its ability to withstand flames. millions of veterans may have been exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma can develop when a person's DNA undergoes alterations which cause cells to multiply without control. This leads to the formation of tumors, which then develop into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body, but it is most prevalent in the chest and abdomen.
Smoking cigarettes does not cause mesothelioma, but it may increase the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos one breathes. Anyone who has been exposed asbestos should quit smoking cigarettes.
In addition, a mesothelioma treatment program should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors associated with this cancer. 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 determine whether a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a mineral that naturally occurs is used in a variety of products, such as roofing, flooring and insulation. Workers who handle, make or work with asbestos-containing materials are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers could lead to breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs, where they cause illness and cancer.
Many asbestos diseases are not diagnosed until it's too late because there is an extended period of time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most deadly asbestos-related illness. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
Occupational exposure is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. Manufacturing, construction, electrical and automobile mechanic jobs all involve the handling of asbestos-containing parts and materials. Some people are also exposed to asbestos through home activities such as smoking or renovating older homes that contain asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the most frequent mesothelioma causing agent. As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lungs, where they irritate the lining known as pleura. This irritation can lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis in the lung. As the disease progresses, it may cause fluid to accumulate in the chest cavity, and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs including the heart and abdomen.
People who are exposed to asbestos at work are at the highest risk for developing mesothelioma. People with a family history or mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related illnesses are also at risk. The risk of exposure to asbestos is higher if one has worked in more than one job over the course of their life. Smoking cigarettes doesn't increase the risk of mesothelioma, however it can make the disease worse for those who have already been diagnosed. Quitting smoking is beneficial if you have had a history of asbestos exposure and suffer from mesothelioma. It can also allow you to live longer and enhance the results of your treatment. It is crucial to inform your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new signs, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, as they can treat the condition with medication or surgery.
Genetics
Many cancers are genetically linked, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the chance of getting a particular disease. Mesothelioma, however not have a gene component. The exposure to asbestos is the main reason.
Asbestos fibers may enter the body via swallowing or inhalation, and then stick to the tissues of the chest, abdomen or the heart. These loose fibers can damage the cells that make up these linings, which can become thin over time. This can result in mesothelioma.
But, not every person exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether someone develops mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. This includes gender, age, and family history of mesothelioma, and other diseases as in addition to any other risk factors, such as smoking.
Mesothelioma is more likely to occur in males than females. This is due to the fact that more males than females were directly exposed to asbestos at work. Additionally, it takes between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to develop following the first exposure to asbestos.
Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having a defective gene. In a study looking at two families with high levels of mesothelioma, scientists found that almost every person in the family had a defective gene located on their short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, known as BAP 1 regulates the flow of calcium inside cells. A defective gene can disrupt this process and causes calcium levels to drop. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and trigger mesothelioma.
Mutations in a gene can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. People with this gene mutation have lower levels of white blood cells, which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.
The kind of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and their occupation can increase a person's mesothelioma-related risk. Additionally, the polio vaccine given to children in the 1940s and 1950s could increase a person's mesothelioma risk by exposing them to cancer-causing SV40 virus.