Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

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

Exposure to asbestos can result in a lifetime risk of malignant, mesothelioma of the peritoneal or pleural regions. Even though the risk seems to decrease after 40 years of exposure, asbestos exposure of any kind is a risk.

Age

The older a person is when exposed, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium, a thin layer surrounding the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they expand beyond control and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma typically affects those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could happen through their work or being a close family member.

Exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma as it causes irritation to the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma is typically found in the lungs' linings, but it can also affect the linings of the abdomen and peritoneum, as well as the heart lining.

Asbestos is a highly resistant and durable mineral. It was utilized in the construction industry, insulation and other industrial applications prior to the 1980s. During this time many millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos through their jobs or being near an asbestos-exposed 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 could cause irritation and even cancer in the lungs when they get stuck.

Mesothelioma symptoms are typically not likely to show up until years after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar with other cancers, and may be fatal if treated.

Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than women. It is also diagnosed most often for those who are older than 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and others who handled asbestos-containing products are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to asbestos exposure in the workplace. Family members of these individuals are also at higher risk due to the fact that asbestos can get on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer an individual is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long time of latency that can last between 20 to 60 years from the first exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma can be found in various parts of the body, based on the type and amount of asbestos present. The lining of the chest wall and lung cavity (the pleura) is afflicted by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the abdominal lining, which is known as the peritoneum.

Most often, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma that affects the chest or lung. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding and construction industries are the most at risk. 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, skin and hair, which can put them at risk as well.

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

When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to grow uncontrolled. This causes the development of tumors, which then turn into mesothelioma. The disease can affect any part of the body, however most often it occurs in the abdomen or chest.

Smoking does not cause mesothelioma. However it can increase the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that one breathes. Anyone who has been exposed asbestos should quit smoking cigarettes.

In addition, a mesothelioma treatment program should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors associated with this type of cancer. A mesothelioma specialist who is experienced to assist them determine the best approach to treat this rare cancer. The specialist will be able to determine whether a patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is used in many different products, including insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle asbestos-containing materials and manufacture them, or work with them face a significant risk of being exposed. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can cause cancer and other illnesses.

Many asbestos diseases are not discovered until it's too late due to a long time period between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma, the most dangerous of asbestos-related illnesses, is no exception. Symptoms of mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.

The most common way people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Manufacturing, construction, electrical and automotive mechanic jobs all require the handling of asbestos-containing parts and materials. Some people are also exposed by their home activities such as smoking or renovating older houses that contain asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos inhalation. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to the lung, where they can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. This irritation can lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis in the lungs. As the disease progresses, it can cause fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue of other organs such as the abdomen and the heart.

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in those who have been exposed to asbestos at work. But people who have an ancestor with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are at risk as well. A person's risk is also higher if they've been exposed to asbestos at multiple times throughout their life. Smoking does increase the risk of mesothelioma, however, it can also worsen the condition for those who are already diagnosed. If you have an history of exposure to asbestos and are suffering from mesothelioma, quitting smoking can help you live longer and improve your treatment outcome. It is essential to inform your doctor about the exposure to asbestos as well as any new signs, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, as they can treat the disease by using medication or surgery.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically related, meaning that a person’s genes may increase the chance of getting a particular disease. However, mesothelioma does not have any genetic component. Instead asbestos exposure is the primary factor.

boynton beach asbestos lawyer fibers are introduced into the body via inhalation or swallowed and sticking to the chest's lining (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). These fibers that are loose can cause damage to the cells that make up these small linings over time. This can lead to mesothelioma.

However, not every person who is exposed to asbestos gets mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other aspects can affect whether a person gets mesothelioma from fishers asbestos lawsuit [visit my homepage] exposure. This includes a person's age and gender as well as their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases, and whether they have other risk factors such as smoking.

Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This may be because more males than females were exposed to asbestos directly at work. Also, it takes between 20 to 60 years for mesothelioma to develop after a person's first exposure to asbestos.

Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having an infected gene. In a study that looked at two families with high rates of mesothelioma, researchers discovered that almost every member of the family had a defective gene on their short arm of chromosome 3. This gene is called BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves within cells. A faulty gene disrupts this process, causing calcium levels to decrease. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

In addition the mutated gene within the immune system of a person can increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. People with this gene mutation have lower levels of white blood cells, which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.

The type of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and the work they performed can also increase a person's risk of mesothelioma. In addition the polio vaccine that was given to children in the 1940s and 1950s could increase the risk of mesothelioma because it exposed them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.