Nine Things That Your Parent Teach You About Mesothelioma From Asbestos

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

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

Exposure to asbestos settlement can increase the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal cancer over the course of your life. Even though the risk seems to decrease after 40 years, asbestos exposure of any kind is dangerous.

Age

The older a person is when exposed, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is a thin layer of tissue that surrounds important organs in the body. The cancerous cells grow uncontrollably and form tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in those who have been exposed to asbestos litigation, either in their job or as a member of someone who worked with asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma due to the irritation of the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma is most commonly found in the lungs' linings however, it may also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum, as well as the heart lining.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is extremely durable and heat resistant. It was used in construction, insulation and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. During this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through their work or living near loved ones who were exposed to asbestos.

When asbestos law is disturbed, it releases fibers into the air. They are too tough for the body's system to break down or process. The fibers can be trapped in the lungs, causing irritation that can lead to cancer.

Mesothelioma symptoms usually do not show up until years after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to other cancers and can be fatal if not treated.

Mesothelioma affects men more often than women, and is the most frequently diagnosed in people over age 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and people who handled asbestos-containing products are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma due to workplace asbestos exposure. Family members of these individuals are also at a higher risk due to the fact that asbestos can be absorbed into their clothing.

Smoking

The chances of a person developing mesothelioma increases the longer they are exposed to asbestos. This is due to the long latency time that can range between 20 and 60 year from the first exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma can occur in different parts of the body, based on the type and amount of asbestos present. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lung's lining cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develop abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.

Those who have been exposed to asbestos are most often develop mesothelioma in their chests or lung. People who worked in the shipbuilding, power generation and construction industries are most at risk. However, mesothelioma is also able to be found in people who were exposed to asbestos at home or in school. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed employees can bring fibers from the workplace home and smear them on their clothes hair, skin and hair. This puts them at risk.

Mesothelioma patients are typically white and older than 65. They are more likely to have had an occupation with a blue collar or military background. Asbestos was extensively used by the United States Navy and other branches of the military due to its ability to withstand flames. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA mutations occur, they can cause cells to grow uncontrolled. This may lead to development of tumors that eventually become mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body, but it is most common in the chest and abdomen.

Smoking does cause mesothelioma but it can increase your risk by increasing the amount of asbestos you breathe in. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider quitting smoking cigarettes.

In addition, a mesothelioma treatment plan should involve a doctor who understands asbestos exposure and the risk factors that can cause this cancer. A specialist in mesothelioma who is knowledgeable on their side can help them determine the best way to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will be able determine if a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is utilized in many different products such as insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, manufacture or work with asbestos-containing materials are at risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can cause cancer and illness.

There is a long period of latency between the exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms, which makes it difficult to identify many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma one of the most hazardous of asbestos-related illnesses, is no exception. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.

Exposure to occupational hazards is the most frequent way in which people are exposed. Manufacturing, construction, electrical and automotive mechanic jobs all require the handling of asbestos-containing components and materials. People can also be exposed through activities at home like smoking or renovating older homes that contain asbestos.

The majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos inhalation. Inhaled asbestos fibers can travel to the lungs, where they irritate a lining called the pleura. This irritation can result in thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis within the lung. As the disease progresses, it may cause to the accumulation of fluid within 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 people who have been exposed to asbestos while at work. People with a family history or mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of a person being diagnosed with asbestos is increased if they have been exposed to asbestos in multiple positions over their lifetime. Smoking does increase the risk of mesothelioma but it can also aggravate the condition for those who are already 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. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or if you have any new symptoms, like abdominal pain or shortness of breathing. They may prescribe medication or operate to treat the disease.

Genetics

Many cancers have a genetic connection which means that a person's genes could increase their risk of developing a particular disease. Mesothelioma, however, does not have a gene component. Exposure to asbestos is the primary factor.

Asbestos fibers may enter the body through inhalation or swallowing and stick to the tissues of the abdomen, chest or the heart. Over time these fibers that are loose can damage or mutate the cells that compose these tiny linings, which could lead to mesothelioma's development.

Despite this, not every person exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether someone develops mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. This includes the person's gender, age, gender, family history of mesothelioma, and other diseases, as well as any additional risk factors like smoking.

Mesothelioma is more likely to develop in males than females. This may be because more men than women were directly exposed to asbestos 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 defective gene. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that nearly every person in the family was affected by a defective gene on the short arm of chromosome 3. This gene, dubbed BAP 1 regulates the flow of calcium within cells. A faulty gene disrupts this process, causing calcium levels to drop. This allows asbestos to turn healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

A mutated gene can also increase the chance 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.

The type of asbestos to which a person was exposed as well as their work can also increase the mesothelioma-related risk. Additionally the polio vaccine that was given to children in the 1940s and 1950s could increase a person's mesothelioma risk by exposing them to cancer-causing SV40 virus.