9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Mesothelioma From Asbestos

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers penetrate the tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, also known as the pleura and peritoneum.

Exposure to asbestos confers a lifetime risk of malignant, pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Although the risk appears to diminish after more than 40 years of exposure, even the smallest exposure to asbestos is risky.

Age

The older a person is when exposed, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium, an elongated layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells expand uncontrollably and form tumors. Mesothelioma is most often seen in those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be through their work or by being a close family member.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, as it irritates mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is most affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum, as well as the lining of the heart (pericardium).

Asbestos is a highly resistant and durable mineral. It was used for construction as well as insulation 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 a loved one.

When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air. They are too difficult for the body's system to break them down or process. The fibers can become stuck in the lungs and cause irritation that may lead to cancer.

The signs of mesothelioma are usually not appear for decades after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to other cancers and can 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. The people who are at most chance of developing mesothelioma as a result asbestos exposure at work include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and others who handled or installed products that contain asbestos. Family members of these people are also at higher risk because the asbestos can be absorbed into their clothing.

Smoking

The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long time of latency that can last between 20 and 60 years from first exposure to the disease until it is diagnosed. Depending on the type of asbestos, a patient's mesothelioma may occur in different regions of the body. The chest wall's lining and lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal lining, called the peritoneum.

Most of the time, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma in the chest or lung. Most at risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power generation and construction. However, mesothelioma may develop in individuals who were exposed to asbestos at home or at school. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos could take the fibers into their clothes hair, skin and even their hair which puts them at risk as well.

People with mesothelioma are typically white and older than 65. They are more likely to have had an occupation that was blue collar or a military background. asbestos compensation was widely used by the United States Navy and other branches of the military because of its ability to withstand flames. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA changes occur, they may cause cells to multiply unchecked. This causes the development of tumors that eventually develop into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body however it is most common in the chest and abdomen.

Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma. However, it can increase the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that an individual inhales. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should stop smoking cigarettes.

Additionally, a person's mesothelioma treatment program should include a doctor who understands asbestos exposure and the risk factors that can cause this cancer. Having an experienced mesothelioma specialist with them can help them determine the best approach to treat this rare cancer. The specialist will be able to determine whether a patient is suitable for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is utilized in many different products including flooring, insulation, roofing and flooring. Anyone who works with asbestos-containing products and manufacture them, or work with them are at a greater chance of being exposed. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can result in breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs, where they cause illness and cancer.

There is a long period of latency between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms which makes it difficult to recognize many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most deadly asbestos disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.

The most common method by which people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Construction, manufacturing, electrical and automobile mechanic jobs all require the handling of asbestos-containing parts and materials. Some people are also exposed through activities at home, such as smoking, or renovating older homes that have asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to the lungs, where they irritate the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. This irritation can lead to the formation of thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses it could cause fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately to lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues of other organs, including the abdomen and heart.

People who are exposed to asbestos while at work are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma. But people who have a family history of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are also at risk. The risk of a person being diagnosed with asbestos is higher if they've been exposed to asbestos in multiple positions over their lifetime. Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can worsen the disease for those already diagnosed. If you have an history of exposure to asbestos and are suffering from mesothelioma, quitting smoking can make you healthier and improve your treatment outcome. Tell your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or have any new symptoms, like abdominal pain or difficulty to breathing. They may prescribe medication or undergo surgery to treat the condition.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically related and a person's genes can increase the chances of them getting a particular disease. Mesothelioma however does not have a genetic component. The exposure to asbestos is the main factor.

asbestos legal fibers may enter the body via swallowing or inhalation, and then stick to the linings of the abdomen, chest or heart. Over time, these loose fibers can alter or damage the cells that make up these tiny linings, which can lead to mesothelioma development.

However, mesothelioma does not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether a person develops mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This includes age, gender, the family history of mesothelioma as well as 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 to asbestos directly at work. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma is having a faulty gene. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, scientists found that nearly everyone in the family had a faulty gene on the short arm of chromosome 3. This gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves through cells. A defect in the gene causes disruption to this process and causes calcium levels to drop. This allows asbestos settlement to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and trigger mesothelioma.

In addition the mutated gene within the immune system of a person could increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos. This mutated gene results in an increase in white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

Other factors that increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person are the kind of asbestos they were exposed to and their job. The polio vaccine that was given to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase a person’s risk of mesothelioma by exposing them the cancer-causing SV40.