The No. 1 Question That Anyone Working In Mesothelioma From Asbestos Needs To Know How To Answer
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure The people who use products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. The fibers enter the chest cavity's lining or abdomen, referred to as the peritoneum and pleura. The exposure to asbestos increases the lifetime risk of malignant, pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Although the risk is believed to diminish after 40 years, asbestos exposure of any kind is dangerous. Age The older a person gets when they are exposed the more likely they are to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium, an extremely thin layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant. This means that they expand beyond control and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma usually affects people who have been exposed to asbestos. This could happen through their work or being a close family member. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is most affected in patients suffering from mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum or the lining of the heart (pericardium). Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is strong and heat resistant. It was used for construction as insulation, construction, and for other industrial uses up to the 1980s. In the 1980s millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos as a result of their jobs or being near an asbestos-exposed loved one. When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers in the air. They are too tough for the body's system to break down or process. The fibers may get stuck in the lungs, causing irritation that can lead to cancer. Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not manifest for a long time after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to other cancers and can be fatal if treated. Mesothelioma affects men more often than women, and it is the most frequently diagnosed in those over 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and those who handled asbestos-containing products are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure in the workplace. Family members of these people are also at higher risk since asbestos could be absorbed into their clothing. Smoking A person's chances of getting mesothelioma increase the longer they're exposed to asbestos. This is due to the long latency time which can range from 20 and 60 years from initial exposure until diagnosis. Based on the type of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma may occur in different regions of the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining between the lung cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the abdomen's lining and is also known as the peritoneum. People who have been exposed to asbestos are most often develop mesothelioma in their chests or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding and construction industries are the most at risk. Mesothelioma is also a possibility for those who have been exposed at home or in schools to asbestos. This is due to the fact that children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos can take the fibers into their clothes hair, skin and even their hair which can put them at risk of developing the disease. People with mesothelioma are typically white and over the age of 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 due to its flame-resistant qualities. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma may develop when DNA of an individual undergoes alterations that cause cells to multiply unchecked. This may lead to development of tumors that eventually grow into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body, but it is most common in the abdomen and chest. Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma. However, it increases the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos one breathes. Anyone who has been exposed asbestos should quit smoking cigarettes. Bend asbestos attorney of a patient with mesothelioma should also include a doctor who is well-versed in asbestos exposure and risk factors. A specialist in mesothelioma who is knowledgeable to assist them determine the best method to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will determine whether the patient is suitable for immunotherapy or experimental treatments. Asbestos Exposure Asbestos is a mineral that naturally occurs, is used in a variety of products, such as flooring, roofing and insulation. Workers who handle, make or work on asbestos-containing products are at high risk for exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to illness and cancer. Many asbestos-related diseases aren't diagnosed until it's too late due to a long latency period between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most deadly of asbestos-related diseases, is no exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos. Occupational exposure is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. All jobs that involve asbestos handling or use, including those in construction, manufacturing automobile mechanics, construction, and electrical. However, people can also be exposed to asbestos by home activities, like smoking cigarettes or renovating older homes that have asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos is the most common mesothelioma-related cause. Inhaled asbestos fibers can travel to the lung, where they can cause irritation to the lining known as the pleura. This irritation can lead to the development of thickened patches on the pleura (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses it could cause fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues of other organs, such as the heart or abdomen. People who are exposed to asbestos while at work are at a higher chance of developing mesothelioma. People with a history of family members or mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases are also at risk. The risk for a person is increased if they have been exposed to asbestos in multiple jobs throughout their life. Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can worsen the disease for those already diagnosed. If you have had a history of exposure asbestos and are suffering from mesothelioma quitting smoking can make you healthier and improve the treatment outcome. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos or if you have any new symptoms, such as abdominal pain or difficulty to breathing. They can prescribe medication or undergo surgery to treat the disease. Genetics Many cancers are linked to genetics that means a person's genes increase the likelihood of getting a specific disease. Mesothelioma however does not have a genetic component. Exposure to asbestos is the main cause. Asbestos fibers are introduced into the body by being inhaled or swallowed, and they stick to the chest's lining (the pleura), 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 make up these small linings, which can lead to mesothelioma's development. However, mesothelioma may not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe that other factors can determine if a person develops mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This includes gender, age, and the family history of mesothelioma as well as other diseases, as and any other risk factors such smoking. Mesothelioma is more likely to be found in males than females. This could be due to the fact that more males than females were directly exposed to asbestos at work. Also, it takes between 20 and 60 years for mesothelioma to develop following the first exposure to asbestos. A faulty gene is another risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study looking at two families with high rates of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that nearly every person in the family had a faulty gene located on their short arm of chromosome 3. This gene is called BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves within cells. A defective gene can disrupt this process, causing calcium levels to decrease. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous cells and cause mesothelioma. In addition the mutated gene within the immune system of a person could also raise the chance of developing mesothelioma after 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 the risk of developing mesothelioma. The polio vaccine, given to children between 1940 and 1950, may also increase the mesothelioma risk by exposure to cancer-causing SV40.