The 10 Scariest Things About Mesothelioma From Asbestos

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

The people who use products containing asbestos are at risk of breathing in or eating asbestos fibers. These fibers penetrate the tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, also known as the peritoneum and pleura.

The exposure to asbestos increases the lifetime risk of malignant, mesothelioma that is peritoneal or pleural. Although the risk appears to diminish after more than 40 years of exposure, even minimal exposure to asbestos is risky.

Age

The more senior a person is at the time of exposure, the more likely they will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium, an elongated layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells multiply rapidly and create tumors. Mesothelioma usually affects those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be through their work or as a close family member.

Asbestos exposure can cause 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 abdomen's lining and peritoneum as well as the lining of the heart.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is durable and heat resistant. It was used in the construction industry, insulation and other industrial applications until the 1980s. In this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their jobs or because they were close to an exposed loved one.

When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers into the air. They are too tough for the body's system to break into pieces or process. The fibers could cause irritation and cancer in the lungs when they get stuck.

The signs of mesothelioma are usually 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 not treated.

Mesothelioma is more common in men than women, and it is most often diagnosed in those over 45. People who are at most risk of developing mesothelioma because of workplace asbestos exposure include ship builders, miners, railroad workers and those who have handled or installed items made with asbestos. Family members of these individuals are also at a higher risk since asbestos could be found on their clothing.

Smoking

The chance of developing mesothelioma rises the longer they're exposed to asbestos. This is due to the lengthy latency period which can last between 20 and 60 year from first exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma can be found in various parts of the body depending on the type and quantity of asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining between the lung cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal lining, called the peritoneum.

Most of the time, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma that affects the chest or the lungs. The most at risk are those who worked in the fields of shipbuilding, power production and construction. Mesothelioma is also a possibility for those who have been exposed at home or in schools to asbestos. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed employees can carry asbestos fibers from the workplace home on their clothing hair, skin and hair. This puts them at risk.

Mesothelioma patients are usually white and older than 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar job or military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military used asbestos extensively because of its flame-resistant properties, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to it.

When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to grow uncontrolled. This leads to the formation of tumors that eventually transform into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, however most often it occurs in the abdomen or chest.

Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma. However, it can increase the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos one breathes. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider stopping smoking.

The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should include a doctor who is well-versed in asbestos compensation exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma expert 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 mineral that naturally occurs that is found in a myriad of products like flooring, roofing and insulation. Anyone who works with asbestos-containing products and manufacture them, or work with them face a significant chance of being exposed. The exposure to asbestos fibers can result in breathing them into the lungs where they cause illness and cancer.

There is a long period of time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms which makes it difficult to recognize many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma one of the most hazardous of asbestos-related diseases is not an exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can appear between 20 and 60 year after exposure to asbestos.

The most common method by which people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and auto mechanic jobs all involve handling asbestos-related components and materials. People can also be exposed through activities at home such as smoking or renovating older homes that contain asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the most common mesothelioma causing agent. As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lung, where they cause irritation to the lining of the lungs, known as pleura. This irritation causes the formation of thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease advances, it can lead fluid to accumulate in the chest cavity, and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues of other organs, including the abdomen and heart.

Mesothelioma is the most frequent cancer among those who have been exposed to asbestos while at work. People who have a family history of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk of exposure to asbestos legal (Gagetaylor noted) is higher if one has had more than one job over the course of their life. Smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, however it can make the condition worse for those who have already been diagnosed. If you have had a history of exposure asbestos and have mesothelioma symptoms quitting smoking may help you live longer and improve your treatment outcome. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or if you experience any new symptoms like abdominal pain or difficulty to breathe. They may prescribe medication or perform surgery to treat the disease.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically linked, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the likelihood of developing a specific disease. However, mesothelioma does not have a genetic component. Instead exposure to asbestos is the main reason.

Asbestos fibers can enter the body via inhalation or swallowing and stick to the tissues of the chest, abdomen or the heart. Over time the loose fibers could cause damage or alteration to the cells that comprise these linings. This can result in the development of mesothelioma.

However, not every person exposed to asbestos gets mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors could affect whether a person gets mesothelioma from asbestos case exposure. This includes the person's gender and age, their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases, and whether they are afflicted with other risk factors like smoking.

Mesothelioma is more likely to be found in men than women. This could be because men were more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Additionally, it takes between 20 and 60 years for mesothelioma develop following the first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having a defective gene. In a study that looked at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, scientists found that nearly everyone in the family had a defective gene on the short arm of chromosome 3. This gene, called BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium inside cells. A faulty gene disrupts this process which causes calcium levels to fall. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and trigger mesothelioma.

Additionally, a mutated gene in the immune system of a person can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos. People with this mutated gene have a lower level of white blood cells, which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.

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