Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
People who use products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. These fibers pierce the lining of the chest cavity and abdomen which is known as the pleura or peritoneum.
Exposure to asbestos confers a lifetime risk of malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Although the risk appears to diminish after 40 years, exposure to asbestos of any kind is a risk.
Age
The older a person gets when exposed, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue surrounding the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells multiply uncontrollably and form tumors. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos either in their work or as a member of someone who was exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, as it irritates mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma is typically found in the lungs’ linings however, it may also affect the abdomen’s lining and peritoneum, as well as the lining of the heart.
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, is durable and heat-resistant. It was utilized for construction as well as insulation and other industrial applications until the 1980s. During this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through their work or by being around loved ones who were exposed to asbestos.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air. They can be inhaled and they are too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers can get stuck in the lungs and cause irritation that leads to cancer.
Mesothelioma symptoms usually do not appear until decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to other cancers and can be fatal if treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma more than women. It is also most often diagnosed among those over 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and those who work with asbestos-containing items are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to asbestos exposure in the workplace. The asbestos on the clothing of these workers could expose their families to risk.
Smoking
The longer someone is exposed to asbestos, the higher their risk of developing mesothelioma. This is because of the long time of latency that can last between 20 and 60 years from initial exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma can occur in different areas of the body based on the type and amount of asbestos present. The lining of the chest wall and the lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma occurs in 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. Most at risk are those who worked in the fields of shipbuilding, power production and construction. Mesothelioma is also a possible risk for individuals who were exposed at home or in schools to asbestos. This is due to the fact that children and spouses of workers who were exposed to starkville Asbestos law firm may take the fibers into their clothes hair, skin, and skin 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 military history. Asbestos was widely used by the United States Navy and other branches in the military because of its flame-resistant qualities. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma can form when DNA of an individual undergoes alterations, causing cells to multiply unchecked. This could lead to the growth of tumors which eventually become mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body however it is most common in the chest and abdomen.
Smoking cigarettes does not cause mesothelioma, but it increases the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos people breathe in. Anyone who has been exposed asbestos should quit smoking cigarettes.
The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should include a physician 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 can determine if the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is used in a myriad of products, such as flooring, roofing, and insulation. Workers who handle, manufacture or work on asbestos-containing products are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to 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 recognize many asbestos diseases. Mesothelioma one of the most hazardous of asbestos diseases, is no exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.
The most common way that people are exposed. All jobs that involve asbestos handling or use, including those in manufacturing, construction automotive mechanics, as well as electrical. However, workers can be exposed to asbestos through home activities, such as smoking or renovation of older homes that have asbestos.
Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lungs, where they irritate the lining known as pleura. This irritation can cause thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis in the lung. As the disease progresses it may result in the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately to lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs including the heart and abdomen.
People who are exposed to asbestos in their work are at the highest chance of developing mesothelioma. However, people with an ancestor with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are at risk as well. The risk of exposure to asbestos is increased if someone has worked in more than one job over the course of their lives. Smoking cigarettes doesn’t 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 help you live longer and improve the treatment outcome. Tell your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or experience any new symptoms such as abdominal pain or difficulty to breathe. They may prescribe medication or perform surgery to treat the disease.
Genetics
Many cancers have a genetic connection that means a person’s genes could increase their risk of getting a specific disease. Mesothelioma, however not have a genetic component. In fact asbestos exposure is the main reason.
Asbestos fibers may enter the body through swallowing or inhalation and adhere to the tissues of the abdomen, chest or the heart. Over time the loose fibers could damage or mutate the cells that comprise these linings. This can lead to mesothelioma development.
Despite this, mesothelioma does not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors could determine if a person develops mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This includes gender, age, gender, the family history of mesothelioma as well as other illnesses, as in addition to any other risk factors, such as smoking.
Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This is because men were more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop between 20 and 60 year after 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, researchers discovered that nearly every person in the family had a faulty gene located on the short arm of chromosome 3. This gene, dubbed BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium within cells. A faulty gene disrupts this process which causes calcium levels to drop. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones, causing mesothelioma.
A gene that is mutated can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. The mutation causes a decrease in white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.
The kind of clearfield asbestos lawyer to which an individual was exposed and the work they performed can also increase the risk of mesothelioma. The polio vaccine that was given to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma through exposure to cancer-causing SV40.