Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

Anyone who uses products containing asbestos are at risk of ingesting or inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers pierce the wall of the abdomen and chest cavity which is also known as the pleura, or the peritoneum.

The exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mysothelioma or peritoneal cancer throughout your life. Although the risk appears to decrease after 40 years of exposure, even minimal medina asbestos lawsuit exposure is dangerous.

Age

The more senior a person is at the time of exposure, the more likely they are to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects mesothelium which is a thin layer of tissue that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, which means they grow out of control and form tumors. Mesothelioma is most often seen in people who have been exposed to asbestos. This could happen through their work or by being a close family member.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma as it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lining of the lungs (pleura) is most affected in people with mesothelioma pleural, but it can also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum or the lining of the heart (pericardium).

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is extremely durable and heat resistant. It was used in the construction industry, insulation and other industrial applications until the 1980s. In the 1980s, millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos through their work or living near an asbestos-exposed loved one.

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

The signs of mesothelioma are usually not show up until decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to 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 in people older than 45. Miners, shipbuilders, railroad workers, and those who installed or handled asbestos-containing items are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Family members of these people are also at greater risk due to the fact that asbestos can be found on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long latency time that can range between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure to diagnosis. Depending on the type of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma can occur in various areas of the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining between the lung cavity and chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the abdominal lining, also known as the peritoneum.

Most of the time, those who have been exposed to radiation develop mesothelioma that affects the chest or the lungs. Most at risk are those who worked in shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma can also develop in people who were exposed to asbestos in their homes or at school. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers may carry asbestos fibers from the workplace home on their clothing hair, skin and hair. This puts them at risk.

Mesothelioma sufferers are usually white and older than 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar job or military history. Asbestos was extensively used by the United States Navy and other branches in the military due to its resistance to flames. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos.

When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to multiply without a limit. This leads to the formation of tumors, which eventually transform into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, however the majority of cases occur in the abdomen or chest.

Smoking cigarettes does not cause mesothelioma, but it may increase the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that people breathe in. Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider abstaining from smoking cigarettes.

A person's treatment plan for mesothelioma should include a doctor who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma specialist who is experienced with them can help them determine the best way to treat this rare cancer. The doctor will determine whether the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that naturally occurs is used in a myriad of products like flooring, roofing and insulation. Workers who handle, make or work on asbestos-containing products are at a high risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can cause illness and cancer.

Many asbestos-related illnesses are not recognized until it is too late because there is a long latency period between exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Mesothelioma is the most dangerous asbestos disease. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.

The most commonly used method by which people are exposed. All jobs that require asbestos handling or usage include those in construction, manufacturing automobile mechanics, construction, and electrical. However, workers can be exposed to asbestos by home activities, like smoking or renovation of older homes that contain asbestos.

Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Lompoc asbestos law firm fibers inhaled may travel into the lungs and irritate the lining known as the pleura. This irritation causes the formation of thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses it may cause to the accumulation of fluid within the chest cavity, and eventually 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 a higher chance of developing mesothelioma. 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 someone has held more than one job over the course of their life. Smoking cigarettes does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, however it can make the illness worse for those who have been diagnosed. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and have mesothelioma symptoms, quitting smoking can help you live longer and improve the treatment outcome. It is essential to inform your doctor about the exposure to asbestos as well as any new symptoms, such as shortness of breath or abdominal pain, because they can treat the disease by undergoing surgery or medication.

Genetics

Many cancers have a genetic connection, which means that a person's genes could increase their risk of developing a particular disease. However, mesothelioma does not have any genetic component. In fact, exposure to asbestos is the main reason.

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

However, mesothelioma does not affect all people who are exposed. Researchers believe other factors can influence whether a person develops mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This includes a person's age and gender, their family history of mesothelioma and other illnesses, 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 and 60 years for mesothelioma to be diagnosed following a person's initial exposure to asbestos.

A faulty gene is another risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study looking at two families with high levels of mesothelioma, scientists found that nearly every person in the family had a faulty gene located on their short arm of the chromosome 3. The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates how calcium moves through cells. When a gene is not functioning properly, this process is affected and calcium levels drop. This enables asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous ones and cause mesothelioma.

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

The type of asbestos to which a person 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, could also increase a person's risk of mesothelioma by exposure to cancer-causing SV40.