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Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers can penetrate the wall of the abdomen and chest cavity and are known as the pleura or peritoneum.

The exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal cancer throughout your life. Although the risk is believed to decrease after 40 years of exposure, even minimal asbestos exposure can be dangerous.

Age

The older a person is when they are exposed, the more likely they will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium, an extremely thin layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, which means they expand beyond control and form tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in those who have been exposed to asbestos, either through their own job or as a member of someone who worked with asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma as it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is most affected in patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma, although it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the heart lining (pericardium).

Asbestos is a highly resistant and long-lasting mineral. It was utilized for construction, insulation, and for other industrial uses up to the 1980s. During this period millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos because of their jobs or because they were close to a loved one.

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

Mesothelioma symptoms are typically not likely to manifest until a long time after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to those of other cancers, and they can be fatal if left untreated.

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than women, and is the most frequently diagnosed in people over age 45. People who are at most chance of developing mesothelioma as a result asbestos exposure at work include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and others who worked with or installed products that contain asbestos. The asbestos found on the clothing of these individuals could put their family members at risk.

Smoking

A person's chances of getting mesothelioma rises the longer they're exposed to asbestos. This is due to the lengthy latency time that can range between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure to diagnosis. Depending on the kind of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma could be found in various areas of the body. The wall of the chest and the lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by mesothelioma pleural. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining of the abdomen and is also known as the peritoneum.

People who have been exposed to asbestos most often develop mesothelioma in their chest or the lungs. Most at risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power generation and construction. Mesothelioma is also a possibility for individuals who were exposed at home or in schools to asbestos. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed employees can bring fibers from the workplace to their homes on their clothes, skin, and hair. This puts them at risk.

Mesothelioma patients tend to be white and older than 65. They are more likely to have had a blue-collar occupation or military background. Asbestos was used extensively by the United States Navy and other branches in the military because of its resistance to flames. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma can form when a person's DNA undergoes changes that cause cells to multiply uncontrolled. This causes the development of tumors that eventually turn into mesothelioma. The disease can affect any part of the body, but most often it occurs in the abdomen or chest.

Smoking cigarettes does not cause mesothelioma. However, it may increase the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos an individual inhales. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider quitting smoking.

Furthermore, a person's mesothelioma treatment program should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors for this cancer. A mesothelioma expert can assist determine the best treatment option for this rare cancer. The doctor can determine whether the patient is suitable for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is utilized in many different products such as insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, make or work with asbestos-containing materials are at a high risk of exposure. The exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to breathing them into the lungs, where they can cause illness or cancer.

There is a long period of latency between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms, which makes it difficult to recognize many asbestos diseases. Mesothelioma, the most dangerous of asbestos-related diseases, is no exception. Symptoms of mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.

Exposure to occupational hazards is the most common way that people are exposed. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and auto mechanic jobs all involve handling or using asbestos components and materials. Some people are also exposed to asbestos through home activities such as smoking or renovating older houses that contain asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos fibers inhaled can enter the lungs and cause irritation to the lining called the pleura. This irritation causes the formation of thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses, it may result in the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissues of other organs, like the heart and abdomen.

Mesothelioma is most common in people who have been exposed to asbestos while working. 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 increased if a person 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 been diagnosed. Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if you have an exposure to asbestos in the past and suffer from mesothelioma. It can also allow you to live longer, and improve the results of your treatment. It is essential to inform your doctor about the exposure to asbestos claim as well as any new symptoms, like shortness of breath or abdominal pain, as they can treat the disease by undergoing surgery or medication.

Genetics

Many cancers are linked to genetics which means that the genes of a person increase the likelihood of getting a specific disease. However, mesothelioma does not have an element of genetics. Instead exposure to asbestos is the main cause.

Asbestos fibers are introduced into the body through inhalation or swallowed, and they stick to the chest's lining (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). These loose fibers can damage the cells that comprise these tiny linings over time. This can lead to mesothelioma.

But it is not the case that every person who is exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors could affect whether a person gets mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. This includes 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 such as smoking.

Mesothelioma is more likely to be found in men than women. This could be due to the fact that more men than women were directly exposed to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop between 20 and 60 years after the first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma is a defective gene. In the study of two families with high mesothelioma rates scientists discovered that almost all members of the family carried a defective gene on their short arm chromosome 3. The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves within cells. When a gene is not functioning properly this process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This allows asbestos to mutate 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. This mutated gene causes the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.

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