12 Facts About Mesothelioma From Asbestos To Make You Think Twice About The Water Cooler

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of ingesting asbestos fibers. These fibers can penetrate the lining of the abdomen and chest cavity which is called the pleura or peritoneum.

Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, or peritoneal cancer throughout your lifetime. Even though the risk seems to diminish after 40 years of exposure, asbestos exposure of any kind is dangerous.

Age

The older a person gets exposed to the environment, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue around major organs in the body. The cancerous cells are malignant. This means that they expand beyond control and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos either in their work or as a family member of someone who worked with asbestos.

Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma is most commonly found in the linings of the lungs but it can also affect the linings of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the lining of the heart.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, is durable and heat resistant. It was utilized in insulation, construction and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. During this time millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos through their work or by being around someone who was exposed to asbestos.

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

Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not show up until decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to those of other types of cancer and can be fatal if they are not treated.

Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than women. It is also more often diagnosed for those who are older than 45. The people who are at most chance of developing mesothelioma as a result asbestos exposure at work include ship builders, miners railroad workers, and others who have handled or installed items made with asbestos. The asbestos found on the clothing of these individuals could put their family members at risk.

Smoking

The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long time of latency, which can be between 20 and 60 year from the first exposure to diagnosis. Depending on the type of asbestos, an individual's mesothelioma could be found in various regions of the body. The lining of the chest wall and lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal lining, called the peritoneum.

People who have been exposed to asbestos the most often develop mesothelioma in their chest or lung. The most at risk are those who worked in the fields of shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in individuals who were exposed to asbestos in their homes or at school. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed employees can carry asbestos fibers from the workplace home and smear them on their clothes hair, skin, and. This puts them at risk.

Mesothelioma sufferers are usually white and over the age of 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar job or military background. Asbestos was widely used by the United States Navy and other branches in the military due to its resistance to flames. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA mutations occur, they can cause cells to multiply unchecked. This results in the development of tumors that eventually develop into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, however typically, it is found in the chest or abdomen.

Smoking does cause mesothelioma but it increases your risk by increasing the amount of asbestos you breathe in. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider abstaining from smoking.

In  Loveland asbestos lawsuit , a mesothelioma treatment plan should involve an experienced doctor who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and the risk factors associated with this type of cancer. A mesothelioma specialist can help determine the best treatment for this rare cancer. The doctor will determine whether the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

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

There is a long period of time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose the various asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma one of the most hazardous of asbestos-related illnesses is not an exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.

Exposure to occupational hazards is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. Any job that involves asbestos handling or usage include those in manufacturing, construction automotive mechanics, as well as electrical. The risk of exposure to asbestos is also present by their home activities such as smoking or renovating older homes that have asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the most frequent mesothelioma causing agent. Inhaled asbestos fibers can travel to the lung, where they cause irritation to a lining called the pleura. This irritation can lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plates) and fibrosis in the lung. As the disease progresses, it can lead to fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately to 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 working. But people who have the family history of mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses, are also at risk. The risk for a person is increased if they have been exposed to asbestos in multiple positions during their lifetime. Smoking can increase the risk of mesothelioma but it can also aggravate the condition for those who are already diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if have had an asbestos-related exposure in the past and suffer from mesothelioma. It can also allow you to live longer and improve the outcome of your treatment. It is important to tell your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new symptoms, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, as they can treat the disease with medication or surgery.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically linked which means that a person's genes may increase the chance of getting a particular disease. Mesothelioma, however not have a gene component. In fact exposure to asbestos is the primary factor.

Asbestos fibers enter the body through inhalation or swallowed, and then clinging to the chest's lining (the pleura) and the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). As time passes these fibers that are loose can alter or damage the cells that comprise these linings. This can result in mesothelioma development.

However, mesothelioma may not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe other factors can affect the likelihood of developing mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos. This could include a person's age and gender as well as their family history of mesothelioma and other illnesses, and whether they are afflicted with other risk factors like smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be due to the fact that more males than females 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.

A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, scientists found that nearly every person in the family was affected by a defective gene located on their short arm of chromosome 3. The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates how calcium moves inside cells. A faulty gene disrupts this process which causes calcium levels to drop. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and trigger mesothelioma.

Mutations in a gene can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. The mutated gene causes the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

Other factors that can raise a person's chance of mesothelioma are the kind of asbestos they were exposed to and their work. The polio vaccine, which was administered to children between 1940 and 1950, may also increase a person’s risk of mesothelioma by exposing them the cancer-causing SV40.