Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Mesothelioma From Asbestos
Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to asbestos can increase the mesothelioma risk. It's not known if the risk decreases once exposure ceases.
When asbestos fibers get stuck in the lung linings or abdomen (peritoneum), a mesothelioma may develop. There are several types of mesothelioma. They include:
Age
The chance of developing mesothelioma depends on a variety of factors. This includes the age at which the person's first exposure to asbestos, the type of asbestos, and the duration of the exposure. The symptoms of mesothelioma generally begin in the lungs and later spread to other parts of the body. The most likely individuals to develop mesothelioma is those who have been exposed to asbestos. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the abdomen's lining, the peritoneum, are less likely to develop mesothelioma.
The older a person is when they are diagnosed with mesothelioma the more severe the disease. This is due to the 20-60 year latency period between exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a natural mineral with fibrous bundles that can form into thin sheets or clump together to create an impermeable substance. Its flexibility and strength made it a preferred material for use in many different products during the 1930s and the 1980s. During this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through secondary or occupational exposure. The term occupational exposure refers to the time when workers are exposed to asbestos in their work. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers of asbestos are brought home by family members wearing clothing, skin or hair.
Inhaling asbestos legal fibers can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and other organs, including the heart. As time passes, this irritation can cause scarring, inflammation and mutation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.
Mesothelioma is mostly a cancer of the pleura, which is the tissue that protects the lung. However, it can also affect other organs such as the stomach and heart.
People who have a blue-collar or military background are more likely to be exposed asbestos as they work in certain industries or serve in the military. However those who have been exposed to asbestos settlement in their homes or from other sources may be at risk.
Additionally, people who carry the BAP1 gene mutation are more likely of developing mesothelioma compared to those who are not affected by this condition. These individuals are usually diagnosed between 50 and 70.
Gender
Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. This is probably due to the fact that men worked in industries more susceptible to exposure to asbestos. Men may have also carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing from job sites. Asbestos is most often found in mines and factories and those that produced asbestos lawyer-based products like pipes, insulation tiles, cement and tiles most at risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is also found in workers who repaired or constructed automobile and railroad equipment and also those who constructed ships and masks. Chrysotile exposure, which is the most popular asbestos type, is generally associated with mesothelioma.
The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with the length and intensity of exposure to asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma occur in those who have been exposed to the material for a period of 30 or more years. The duration of the latency period may vary based on a person's gender and kind of asbestos exposure.
It is not clear why women have a longer mesothelioma recurrence. Many women who developed mesothelioma worked in the domestic sector. They may have been exposed to asbestos as they washed the clothes of their husbands or fathers.
When mesothelioma was a more prevalent disease it was found in a myriad of commercial and domestic building materials. The fibers were used in drywalls, pipe coatings, paints, and cements. Many of these products were employed in workplaces and homes, where the asbestos was frequently disturbed by renovations or construction.
Asbest was found in many kinds of buildings, such as schools, churches and hospitals even when mesothelioma was used as an industrial product. Many of these buildings date back to the 1980s when asbestos was banned.
Asbestos, a multifaceted substance, is being studied by researchers, especially in connection to mesothelioma. Researchers are investigating how asbestos affects the lungs as well as the gastrointestinal tract - the part where mesothelioma can be the most prevalent. They are also looking at whether other factors, such as gender or the level of asbestos exposure, could influence the mesothelioma rates.
Work History
The most likely to develop mesothelioma is a person who has worked in a field that has used asbestos for many years. Asbestos was used extensively in construction and building in the 1920s until the 1980s. Numerous jobs, like manufacturing power generation, mining, shipbuilding, and asbestos removal, were at risk.
Asbestos is an naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is heat-resistant and durable, making it useful for a variety products. The asbestos fibers are used in brake pads, insulation, and roofing, among others. When asbestos is cut or smashed, it releases microscopic dust particles that can be inhaled or swallowed.
Mesothelioma typically takes between 20 and 60 years after initial exposure to develop, however it can develop much earlier than that. It can develop in the lungs, in the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma pleural), or the abdomen.
It is unclear the reason why those with a history of mesothelioma are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Mesothelioma can be linked to a mutation in the gene BAP1 however it's not a common.
A person is also at risk of developing mesothelioma if they grew up with asbestos-related workers and then brought the asbestos fibers home on their clothes, skin and hair. This is known as secondary exposure. People who work in industries with high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home-grown fibers onto their footwear and clothing. The fibers can be inhaled by family members or consumed at home.
Asbestosis, which is a lung disease to mesothelioma often occurs as a result of breathing asbestos fibers. Asbestosis typically develops in the lungs. It can cause fluid accumulation around the rib cage as well as breathing problems, a cough, chest pain, and a lump on the ribcage.
Australia has the highest incidence of mesothelioma. It is mainly due to the fact that asbestos was widely used for many decades in building manufacturing, mining, and manufacturing. In 1930, a doctor noted the link between mesothelioma and asbestos case. This resulted in England to adopt laws in the 1930s regulating asbestos. These regulations required companies to install ventilation equipment as well as other safety equipment.
Smoking
Like other types of cancer, mesothelioma can be caused by cells receiving faulty genetic information and multiply without checking. When these cells are in the lungs (pleura) or abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or in the heart (pericardium) they may cause abnormal growths, referred to as tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma. However, there are several risk factors that can increase the chance of developing the disease.
Asbestos exposure is the most significant mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers breathed into the lungs cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and chest wall, which could cause mesothelioma. People exposed to asbestos in the workplace have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma than people who were not exposed. The kind of asbestos that the person was exposed to is also important. Different kinds of asbestos have different effects on the lungs, and on a person's health. For instance, chrysotile poses a greater risk of mesothelioma than amphiboles such as amosite or crocidolite.
Mesothelioma can also be a risk factor for those who have an ancestry of the disease. Mesothelioma is not common in children and younger adults however, it can occur in young adults if they were an adult who was exposed to asbestos. People who are mesothelioma-related illness or who has mesothelioma have a slightly higher risk of developing the disease because they can breathe asbestos fibers on hair, skin, and clothing.
The type of work a person did can also influence the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. Those who worked on power plants, ships or other areas in which asbestos was used are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma than those who did not. Mesothelioma incidences are higher for those working in certain industries, such as manufacturing or construction.
A person's race, gender, and age can also play a role in his or her mesothelioma. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women, as are those who have an ancestor with the disease. This is due to the fact that women are less likely to work in industries involving asbestos and men are more likely than other people to be exposed to asbestos at work.