Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
The people who use products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers. The fibers enter the tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, also referred to as the pleura and peritoneum.
Exposure to asbestos can increase the chance of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, or peritoneal cancer over the course of your life. Although Bellevue asbestos lawyer is believed to decrease after more than 40 years of exposure, even minimal asbestos exposure is dangerous.
Age
The older a person is when they are exposed the more likely they are to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that affects mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue surrounding the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells multiply in uncontrolled ways and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in people who were exposed to asbestos either through their own work or as a family member of someone who was exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma due to irritation of the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most affected in people with mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum or the heart lining (pericardium).
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral is extremely durable and heat-resistant. It was utilized for construction as well as insulation and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. During this period many millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their work or being close to an exposed loved one.
When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers into the air. They are too hard for the body's systems to break them down or process. The fibers could cause irritation and even cancer in the lungs if they become stuck.
Mesothelioma symptoms usually do not manifest until a long time after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to those of other cancers and can be fatal if they are not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than females. It is also most often diagnosed in people older than 45. Those who are at the most chance of developing mesothelioma as a result of workplace asbestos exposure include ship builders, miners, railroad workers and those who have handled or installed items that contain asbestos. Family members of these individuals are also at greater risk because the asbestos can be absorbed into their clothing.
Smoking
The chance of developing mesothelioma increase the longer they're exposed to asbestos. This is due to the lengthy latency period which can last between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure to diagnosis. Depending on the type of asbestos, an individual's mesothelioma could be found in various parts of the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining between the lung cavity and chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma occurs in the abdomen's lining also known as the peritoneum.
Most often, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma of the chest or lungs. The most at risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power production and construction. Mesothelioma is also a possibility for individuals who were exposed at home or at school to asbestos. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers can bring fibers from the workplace to their homes on their clothes, skin, and hair. This puts them at risk.
Mesothelioma sufferers are usually white and over the age of 65. They are more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military used asbestos extensively because of its flame-resistant properties, and millions of veterans may have been exposed to it.
When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to multiply without a limit. This causes the development of tumors that eventually transform into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, but typically, it is found in the abdomen or chest.
Smoking does cause mesothelioma but it can increase your risk by increasing the amount asbestos you inhale. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should stop smoking cigarettes.
A person's treatment plan for mesothelioma should include a doctor who is well-versed in asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma specialist can help determine the best treatment option for this rare cancer. The doctor will be able to determine whether a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, is used in a myriad of products like flooring, roofing, and insulation. Workers who handle, make or work with asbestos-containing materials are at high risk for exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to cancer and other illnesses.
There is a long period of latency between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of symptoms, which makes it difficult to identify many asbestos diseases. Mesothelioma is the most hazardous asbestos-related illness. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
The most common method by which people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. All jobs that involve asbestos handling or use include those in construction, manufacturing automobile mechanics, construction, and electrical. However, people can also be exposed to asbestos through home activities, like smoking or renovation of older houses that contain asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the most common mesothelioma causing agent. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to the lungs, where they irritate a lining called pleura. This irritation can lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plates) and fibrosis within the lung. As the disease progresses it can cause fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissues of other organs, such as the heart and abdomen.
People who are exposed to asbestos in their work are at the greatest chance of developing mesothelioma. However, people with an ancestor with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are at risk as well. The risk of asbestos exposure is increased if a person has worked in more than one job in 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 been diagnosed. If you have had a history of exposure asbestos and experience mesothelioma quitting smoking may make you healthier and improve the outcome of your treatment. Inform your doctor if have been exposed to asbestos or if you notice any new symptoms such as abdominal pain or difficulty to breathe. They can prescribe medication or operate to treat the disease.
Genetics
Many cancers are genetically linked and a person's genes may increase the chance of them getting a particular disease. However, mesothelioma doesn't have an element of genetics. In fact asbestos exposure is the main reason.
Asbestos fibers can enter the body through swallowing or inhalation, and then stick to the tissues of the chest, abdomen or the heart. These loose fibers can harm the cells that make up these small linings over time. This can result in mesothelioma.
But there is a chance that not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors could affect whether a person gets mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. This includes the person's gender, age, and family history of mesothelioma and other diseases as in addition to any other risk factors like smoking.
Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be due to the fact that more men than women were exposed directly to asbestos at work. Additionally, it takes between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to be diagnosed following a person's initial exposure to asbestos.
A faulty gene is another risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, researchers discovered that almost every member of the family had a faulty gene on their short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves through cells. With a faulty gene the process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.
A mutated gene can also increase the chance of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. The mutated gene causes an increase in white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.
The type of asbestos to which an individual was exposed as well as their work can also increase a person's risk of mesothelioma. The polio vaccine, given to children between 1940 and 1950, may also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma through exposing them the cancer-causing SV40.