Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

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

The exposure to asbestos lawyer increases the lifelong risk of malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. While the risk does appear to decrease after more than 40 years of exposure, even minimal asbestos settlement exposure is dangerous.

Age

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

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma due to irritation of the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lungs' linings but it can also affect the linings of the abdomen and peritoneum as well as the lining of the heart.

Asbestos is a highly resistant and long-lasting mineral. It was used in construction as well as insulation and for other industrial uses up to the 1980s. During this time, millions of Americans were either exposed to asbestos as a result of their work or by being around an asbestos-exposed loved one.

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

Mesothelioma symptoms typically do not show up until years after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to those of other types of cancer and can be fatal if left untreated.

Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than women. It is also more often diagnosed in people older than 45. Those who are at the most chance of developing mesothelioma as a result asbestos legal exposure in the workplace include ship builders, miners railroad workers, and others who handled or installed products made with asbestos. Family members of these individuals are also at greater risk since asbestos could be found on their clothing.

Smoking

The longer an individual is exposed to asbestos, the higher their risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the lengthy latency period, which can take between 20 to 60 years from the first exposure to the disease until it is diagnosed. Based on the type of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma can occur in various areas of the body. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining between the lung cavity and the chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal lining, called the peritoneum.

Most of the time, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma of the chest or lung. The most at risk are those working in shipbuilding, power generation and construction. Mesothelioma is also a possible risk for those who have been exposed at home or at school to asbestos. This is due to the fact that children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos could bring the fibers to their clothing, skin and hair, which puts them at risk of developing the disease.

Mesothelioma patients are typically white and older than 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military have used asbestos extensively due to its flame-resistant properties, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to it.

Mesothelioma can develop when an individual's DNA undergoes changes that cause cells to multiply without control. This causes the development of tumors, which then develop into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the entire body however it is most prevalent in the abdomen and chest.

Smoking does not cause mesothelioma, but it increases the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that an individual inhales. Anyone who has been exposed asbestos should quit smoking.

The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma should include a doctor who is familiar with asbestos exposure and risk factors. A mesothelioma specialist who is experienced on their side can help them determine the best approach to treat this rare cancer. The specialist will be able to determine whether a patient is suitable for immunotherapy or experimental treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is used in many different products, including flooring, insulation, roofing and flooring. Anyone who works with asbestos-containing products make them, or manufacture them, or work with them face a significant risk of being exposed. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to illness and cancer.

There is a long period of time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma, the most dangerous of asbestos-related diseases is not an exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure.

The most common method by which people are exposed to asbestos is through occupational exposure. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and automobile mechanic jobs all involve the handling of asbestos-containing components and materials. However, workers can be exposed to asbestos by home activities, such as smoking or renovation of older houses that contain asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos is the main mesothelioma causing agent. Inhaled asbestos fibers can travel to the lungs, where they irritate the lining known as the pleura. This irritation causes the development of thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) and fibrosis of the lungs. As the disease progresses, it can lead to fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues of other organs, such as the abdomen and the heart.

People who are exposed to asbestos while at work are at the highest chance of developing mesothelioma. However, those with a family history of mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses, are at risk as well. The risk of a person being diagnosed with asbestos is increased if they have been exposed to asbestos in multiple positions over their lifetime. Smoking cigarettes does not increase the likelihood of mesothelioma but it can make the disease worse for those who have been 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. It is important to tell your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new symptoms, such as shortness of breath or abdominal pain, because they can treat the disease by using medication or surgery.

Genetics

Many cancers are genetically related and a person's genes can increase the chances of developing a specific disease. Mesothelioma, however, does not have a gene component. In fact asbestos exposure is the main reason.

Asbestos fibers are introduced into the body via inhalation or swallowed, and they stick to the lining of the chest (the pleura) and the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). Over time these fibers that are loose can damage or mutate the cells that compose these linings. This can lead to the development of mesothelioma.

However, mesothelioma may not affect everyone who is exposed. Researchers believe other factors can affect the likelihood of developing mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This could include a person's gender and age and 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 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 having an infected gene. In a study of two families with high mesothelioma rates, scientists found that nearly every member of the family had an abnormal gene on their short arm chromosome 3. This gene, known as BAP 1 regulates the flow of calcium inside cells. When a gene is not functioning properly this process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This causes asbestos to transform healthy cells into cancerous cells and cause mesothelioma.

A mutated gene can also increase the chance of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. People with this mutated gene have lower levels of white blood cells, which are the cells that fight cancerous cells.

The kind of asbestos to which a person was exposed and the work they performed can also increase a person's risk of mesothelioma. The polio vaccine, which was administered to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase a person’s risk of developing mesothelioma through exposing them the cancer-causing SV40.