Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
The people who use products containing asbestos are at risk of breathing in or eating asbestos fibers. These fibers pierce the wall of the abdomen and chest cavity and are called the pleura or the peritoneum.
Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, or peritoneal cancer over the course of your life. While the risk does appear to diminish after more than 40 years of exposure, even a small amount of asbestos exposure can be dangerous.
Age
The older a person gets when exposed, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium, a thin layer surrounding the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they expand beyond control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos, either through their own work or as a member of someone who was exposed to it.
Round Rock asbestos attorneys to asbestos can cause mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is the most affected in people with mesothelioma of the pleural region, but it can also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum or the lining of the heart (pericardium).
Asbestos is a heat-resistant and durable mineral. It was widely used in insulation, construction and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. In this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos due to their jobs or because they were close to an exposed loved one.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air. They are too tough for the body's systems to break them down or process. The fibers could be trapped in the lungs and cause irritation that can lead to cancer.
Mesothelioma symptoms are typically not likely to manifest until a long time after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar with other cancers, and may be fatal if not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than women. It is also diagnosed most often among those over 45. Those who are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma because asbestos exposure at work include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and others who worked with or installed products made of asbestos. The asbestos found on the clothing of these workers can also expose their families to risk.
Smoking
The chance of developing mesothelioma increase the longer they are exposed to asbestos. This is because of the long latency time, which can take between 20 and 60 years from first exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma can be found in various parts of the body, based on the type and amount of asbestos present. The wall of the chest and the lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the abdominal lining, also known as the peritoneum.
Most often, people who have been exposed to radiation develop mesothelioma of the chest or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding and construction industries are most at risk. Mesothelioma can also be a risk for those who were exposed at home or in school to asbestos. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers can bring fibers from the workplace home and smear them on their clothes, skin, and hair. This puts them at risk.
Mesothelioma patients are typically white and older than 65. They are more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or military background. 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 it.
Mesothelioma may develop when DNA of an individual undergoes changes, causing cells to multiply unchecked. This results in the development of tumors that eventually turn into mesothelioma. The disease can affect any part of the body, however the majority of cases occur in the chest or abdomen.
Smoking does not cause mesothelioma, but it may increase the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos people breathe in. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider stopping smoking cigarettes.
A person's treatment plan for mesothelioma must also include a physician who is well-versed in asbestos exposure and risk factors. Having an experienced mesothelioma specialist on their side can help them determine the best method to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will be able to determine whether a patient is suitable for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is used in many different products, including flooring, insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, manufacture or work with asbestos-containing products are at high risk for exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to illness and cancer.
Many asbestos-related illnesses are not diagnosed until it's too late because there is a long time period between exposure and the onset of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most deadly asbestos disease. The symptoms of mesothelioma may develop between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
Exposure to occupational hazards is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. Manufacturing, construction, electrical and automotive mechanic jobs all require handling or using asbestos parts and materials. However, people can also be exposed to asbestos through at-home activities, such as smoking cigarettes or the renovation of older homes that contain asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the most frequent mesothelioma-related cause. As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lung, where they cause irritation to the lining known as the pleura. This irritation leads to the development of thickened patches on the pleura (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses it can lead to the accumulation of fluid 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 those who have been exposed to asbestos working. 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 higher if they've been exposed to asbestos in multiple jobs during their lifetime. Smoking does increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can also aggravate the condition for those already diagnosed. If you have had a history of exposure asbestos and experience mesothelioma quitting smoking can help you live longer and improve the outcome of your treatment. It is important to tell your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new signs, such as shortness of breath or abdominal pain, as they can treat the condition with medication or surgery.
Genetics
Many cancers are linked to genetics, which means that the genes of a person increase the likelihood of developing a particular disease. But mesothelioma itself does not have a genetic component. In fact exposure to asbestos is the primary factor.
Asbestos fibers are introduced into the body through inhalation or swallowed, and they stick to the chest's lining (the pleura), the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). These fibers that are loose can cause damage to the cells that make up these tiny linings over time. This can lead to mesothelioma.
But it is not the case that every person exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma. Researchers believe other factors can affect the likelihood of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This includes the person's age and gender, their family history of mesothelioma or other diseases, and whether they have other risk factors, such as smoking.
Mesothelioma is more likely to occur in men than women. This could be due to the fact that more males than females were directly exposed to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos.
A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study that looked at two families with high levels of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that almost everyone in the family had a faulty gene on the short arm of chromosome 3. The 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 turn healthy cells into cancerous cells and cause mesothelioma.
A mutated gene can also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. People with this mutated gene have lower levels of white blood cells which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.
Other factors that could increase the chance of developing mesothelioma include the kind of asbestos they were exposed to as well as their job. The polio vaccine that was given to children between 1940 and 1950, can also increase the mesothelioma risk by exposing them the cancer-causing SV40.