Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
The people who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of ingesting or inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers are absorbed into the lining 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 a small amount of asbestos exposure can be dangerous.
Age
The older a person is at the time of exposure, the more likely they are to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that surrounds major organs in the body. The cancerous cells expand uncontrollably and form tumors. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in those who have been exposed to asbestos in their work or as a family member of someone who worked with asbestos.
Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma as it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is most affected by mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum or the heart lining (pericardium).
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral is strong and heat-resistant. It was utilized for construction as insulation, construction, and other industrial purposes up to the 1980s. In this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their jobs or by being 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 into pieces or process. The fibers can cause irritation and even cancer in the lungs when they get stuck.
Mesothelioma symptoms are typically not likely to appear until decades after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to those of other cancers and can be fatal if left untreated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than females. It is also most often diagnosed for those who are older than 45. The people who are at highest chance of developing mesothelioma as a result asbestos exposure in the workplace include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and those who handled or installed products made with asbestos. Family members of these people are also at a higher risk since asbestos could get on their clothing.
Smoking
The chances of a person developing mesothelioma increase the longer they are exposed to asbestos. This is due to the lengthy latency time that can range between 20 and 60 years from the time of exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma can occur in different parts of the body, based on the type and amount of asbestos. The wall of the chest and the lung cavity (the pleura) is afflicted by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develop abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.
People who have been exposed to asbestos are most often develop mesothelioma in their chest or lung. Most at risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to be found in people who were exposed to asbestos in their homes or at school. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos may carry the asbestos fibers home on their clothes hair, skin and even their hair which puts them at risk as well.
Mesothelioma patients tend to be white and older than 65. They are more likely to have an occupation with a blue collar or military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military used asbestos extensively because of its ability to withstand flames. millions of veterans could have been exposed to asbestos.
When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to grow uncontrolled. This results in the development of tumors that eventually transform into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, however typically, it is found in the chest or abdomen.
Smoking causes mesothelioma however it can increase your risk by increasing the amount asbestos you inhale. Therefore, Long Beach asbestos lawyer who has been exposed to asbestos should consider quitting smoking cigarettes.
In addition, a mesothelioma therapy plan should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors that can cause this type of cancer. A mesothelioma expert can help determine the best treatment for this rare cancer. The doctor will be able determine if a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is used in a variety of products like roofing, flooring and insulation. Workers who handle asbestos-containing materials and manufacture them, or work with them are at a greater chance of being exposed. Exposure to asbestos fibers can result in breathing them into the lungs, where they can cause illness or cancer.
Many asbestos diseases are not discovered until it's too late due to a long latency period between exposure and the development of symptoms. Mesothelioma one of the most hazardous of asbestos-related diseases, is no exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can appear between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
The most common method by which people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and automotive mechanic jobs all require handling asbestos-related components and materials. Some people are also exposed by their home activities, such as smoking, or renovating older homes that have asbestos.
Inhalation of asbestos is the most common mesothelioma-related cause. As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lungs, where they irritate the lining known as the pleura. This irritation causes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses, it could result in the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues of other organs like the heart and abdomen.
People who are exposed to asbestos at work are at a higher chance of developing mesothelioma. People who have a family history of mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related illnesses are also at risk. The risk of exposure to asbestos is higher if one has worked in more than one job in the course of their lives. Smoking does increase the risk of mesothelioma however, it can also worsen the disease for those already diagnosed. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and experience mesothelioma quitting smoking can make you healthier and improve the treatment outcome. Tell your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or if you experience any new symptoms like abdominal pain or shortness of breathing. They may prescribe medication or operate to treat the disease.
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. Exposure to asbestos is the most important reason.
Asbestos fibers can enter the body via swallowing or inhalation, and then stick to the linings of the abdomen, chest or the heart. These loose fibers can harm the cells that make up these tiny linings over time. This can lead to mesothelioma.
Despite this, mesothelioma does not affect every person who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors could determine if a person develops mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. This includes the person's age, gender, family history of mesothelioma, and other illnesses, as well as any additional risk factors, such as smoking.
Mesothelioma is more likely to be found in males than females. This may be because more men than women were exposed to asbestos directly at work. Mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study that looked at two families with high levels of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that almost every person in the family was affected by a defective gene located on the short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, dubbed BAP 1 regulates the flow of calcium within cells. With a faulty gene, this process is disrupted and calcium levels drop. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.
Mutations in a gene can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. People with this mutated gene have lower levels of white blood cells, which are the cells that fight off cancerous cells.
Other factors that can raise the risk of mesothelioma in a person are the kind of asbestos they were exposed to as well as their work. Additionally, the polio vaccine given to children in the 1940s and 1950s may increase the risk of mesothelioma by exposing them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.