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Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of ingesting or inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers enter the lining of the chest cavity or abdomen, referred to as the pleura and peritoneum.

Exposure to asbestos can increase the chance of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, or peritoneal cancer throughout your lifetime. Even though the risk seems to decrease after 40 years of exposure, asbestos exposure of any kind is a risk.

Age

The older the person is when exposed, the greater the risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium - a thin layer surrounding the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant. This means that they expand beyond control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos either through their own job or as a member of someone who was exposed to it.

Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma because it irritates the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lungs' linings but it can also affect the linings of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the lining of the heart.

Asbestos is a heat-resistant and durable mineral. It was used for construction, insulation, and other industrial purposes up to the 1980s. During this time, millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos because of their work or by being around loved ones who were exposed to asbestos.

When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air. They can be inhaled and they are too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers can be trapped in the lungs, causing irritation that leads to cancer.

The symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not show up until decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar with other cancers and can be fatal if not treated.

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than women, and it is most commonly diagnosed in people over age 45. Shipbuilders, miners, railroad workers, and others who work with asbestos-containing products are at highest chance of developing mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The asbestos found on the clothing of these people can expose their families to risk.

Smoking

The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the higher their risk of developing mesothelioma. 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 be found in various parts of the body, based on the type and quantity of asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lung's lining cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the abdominal lining, called the peritoneum.

People who have been exposed to asbestos most often develop mesothelioma in their chests or lung. The most at the risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in individuals who were exposed to asbestos at home or at school. This is due to the fact that children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos can take the fibers home on their clothes, skin and hair, which puts them at risk too.

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

Mesothelioma can form when a person's DNA undergoes alterations, causing cells to multiply without control. This could lead to the formation of tumors that later grow into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body however it is most prevalent in the abdomen and chest.

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

The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should also include a doctor who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and risk factors. Having an experienced mesothelioma specialist to assist them determine the best method to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will be able determine if a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is used in many different products, including insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, manufacture or work with asbestos-containing materials are at high risk for exposure. The exposure to asbestos fibers can result in breathing them into the lungs, which can cause illness and cancer.

There is a long time of latency between 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. The symptoms of mesothelioma may develop between 20 and 60 years after asbestos lawyer exposure.

Occupational exposure is the most common way that people are exposed. Manufacturing, construction, electrical and automotive mechanic jobs all require handling or using asbestos components and materials. However, workers can be exposed to asbestos by home activities, such as smoking or renovation of older houses that contain asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos particles that are inhaled may travel into the lungs and cause irritation to the lining known as the pleura. This irritation can result in 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 lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs including the heart and abdomen.

People who are exposed to asbestos while at work are at the highest chance of developing mesothelioma. But people who have a family history of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are also at risk. The risk for a person 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 also aggravate the condition for those already diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if have a history of asbestos exposure and are suffering from mesothelioma. It can also allow you to live longer and improve the outcome of your treatment. Inform your doctor if have been exposed to asbestos or notice any new symptoms like abdominal pain or shortness of breathing. They may prescribe medication or operate to treat the condition.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically related which means that a person's genes may increase the likelihood of developing a specific disease. However, mesothelioma does not have a genetic component. Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause.

Asbestos fibers are introduced into the body via inhalation or swallowed, and they stick to the lining of the chest (the pleura) and the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). As time passes these fibers that are loose can damage or mutate the cells that compose these tiny linings, which can result in the development of mesothelioma.

However, mesothelioma does not affect every person who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether a person develops mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This could include a person's gender and age as well as their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases, and whether they have additional risk factors, such as smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be because men were more likely than women to have been directly exposed asbestos while at work. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos case.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma is a defective gene. In a study that looked at two families with high levels of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that almost everyone in the family was affected by a defective gene located on their short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, known as BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium inside cells. When a gene is not functioning properly, this process is affected and calcium levels drop. This allows asbestos to turn healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

In addition an mutated gene in the immune system of a person could also raise the chance of developing mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos case. People with this gene mutation have a lower level of white blood cells which are the cells that fight off cancerous cells.

Other factors that increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person are the kind of asbestos they were exposed to as well as their job. Additionally the polio vaccine administered to children in the 1940s and 1950s may increase the risk of mesothelioma because it exposed them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.