Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
People who use asbestos-containing products are at risk of inhaling or inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers penetrate the wall of the chest cavity and abdomen which is also known as the pleura, or the peritoneum.
The exposure to asbestos increases the chance of developing malignant pleural mysothelioma or peritoneal cancer throughout your life. Even though the risk seems to diminish after 40 years, asbestos exposure of any kind is a risk.
Age
The older the person is when exposed, the greater the risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue around important organs in the body. The cancerous cells expand uncontrollably and form tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in people who were exposed to asbestos either through their own job or as a member of someone who was exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, as it irritates mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is most affected by mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the abdomen’s lining and peritoneum as well as the heart lining (pericardium).
Asbestos is a non-porous and durable mineral. It was widely used in construction, insulation and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. In the 1980s millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos through their work or Cassy Lawn living near someone who was exposed to asbestos.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers in the air. They are too tough for the body’s system to break them down or process. The fibers may be trapped in the lungs and cause irritation that leads to cancer.
Mesothelioma symptoms are typically not likely to appear until decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar with other cancers and can be fatal without treatment.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma more than women. It is also most often diagnosed in people older than 45. The people who are at most chance of developing mesothelioma as a result of workplace asbestos exposure include ship builders, miners, railroad workers and those who have handled or installed items made with asbestos. The asbestos on the clothing of these people can expose their families to risk.
Smoking
A person’s chances of getting mesothelioma increases the longer they’re exposed asbestos. This is due to the long time of latency, which can be between 20 and 60 years from the time of exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma may occur in different areas of the body based on the type and quantity of asbestos. The wall of the chest and the lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by mesothelioma pleural. Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the abdominal lining, called the peritoneum.
Those who have been exposed to asbestos the most often develop mesothelioma in their chests or the lungs. The most at risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power generation and construction. However, mesothelioma may 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 could take the fibers to their clothing hair, skin and even their hair which puts them at risk too.
Mesothelioma patients are usually white and older than 65. They are also more likely to hold a blue-collar position or military background. Asbestos was extensively used by the United States Navy and other branches in the military because of its ability to withstand flames. Millions of veterans were exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma can develop when DNA of an individual undergoes changes, causing cells to multiply uncontrolled. This can lead to the development of tumors that eventually grow into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body but is most common in the chest and abdomen.
Smoking does not cause mesothelioma, Cassy Lawn but it may increase the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos one breathes. Therefore anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should think about abstaining from smoking cigarettes.
The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should also include a physician who is familiar with asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma expert can assist determine the best treatment for this rare cancer. The doctor can determine whether the patient is suitable for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is utilized in many different products including flooring, insulation, Cassy Lawn roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, manufacture or work on asbestos-containing products are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers could lead to breathing them into the lungs where they 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 diseases. Mesothelioma is the most deadly asbestos disease. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest 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 automobile mechanic jobs all involve handling asbestos-related components and materials. However, workers can be exposed to asbestos through home activities, like smoking cigarettes or the renovation of 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 can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs, known as pleura. This irritation can lead to the formation of thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) and Cassy Lawn fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses, it can result in the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately lung cancer. Mesothelioma may also affect the linings of other organs such as the heart or abdomen.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent in people who have been exposed to asbestos at work. But people who have a family history of mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are at risk as well. The risk of asbestos exposure is higher if one has held more than one job in the course of their life. Smoking cigarettes doesn’t increase the risk of mesothelioma however it can make the disease worse for those who have already been diagnosed. Quitting smoking is beneficial if you have had an asbestos-related exposure in the past 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 have any new symptoms, like abdominal pain or shortness of breathe. They can prescribe medication or undergo surgery to treat the disease.
Genetics
Many cancers are genetically related, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the chance of developing a specific disease. Mesothelioma, however not have a gene component. The exposure to asbestos is the main cause.
Asbestos fibers enter the body via inhalation or swallowed, and they stick to the chest’s lining (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). Over time the loose fibers could cause damage or alteration to the cells that comprise these small linings, which could lead to the development of mesothelioma.
But it is not the case that every person who is exposed to asbestos gets mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether someone 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 or cassylawn other diseases, and whether they have additional risk factors, such as smoking.
Mesothelioma is more likely to develop in men than women. This could be due to the fact that men were more likely than women to have been directly exposed asbestos in the workplace. Additionally, it takes between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to be diagnosed following a person’s initial exposure to asbestos.
Another risk factor for mesothelioma is a faulty gene. In an investigation of two families with mesothelioma incidences that were high researchers found that nearly all members of the family carried an abnormal gene on their short arm chromosome 3 This gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves through cells. With a faulty gene this process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.
Additionally, a mutated gene in the immune system of a person could increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos. This mutated gene results in a decrease in white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.
The type of asbestos to which an individual was exposed as well as their work can also increase a person’s risk of mesothelioma. Additionally, the polio vaccine given to children in the 1940s and 1950s may increase the risk of mesothelioma because it exposed them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.