Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The risk of developing mesothelioma increases when exposed to asbestos. It's not known whether the risk decreases after exposure ceases.

The mesothelioma is caused by asbestos legal fibers are trapped in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are several kinds of mesothelioma. These include:

Age

The likelihood of a person developing mesothelioma depends on a variety of variables. These include the age of their initial exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos used and the length of exposure. The signs of mesothelioma typically start in the lungs, and then spread to other parts. Thus, those who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are most likely to develop the condition. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the lining of the abdomen, the peritoneum, are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The older a person is when they are diagnosed with mesothelioma, the more severe the disease. This is due to the 20-60 year time between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally with fibrous bundles which can form thin sheets or clump together into an impermeable material. From the 1930s until the 1980s, its flexibility and durability made asbestos a very popular material. In this period, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos via secondary or occupational exposure. Workplace exposure occurs when employees are exposed to asbestos in their workplace. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are absorbed home on hair, clothing or skin and unknowingly inhaled by family members.

Inhaling asbestos fibers cause irritation to the lung's lining as well as other organs such as the heart. This irritation can lead to scarring, inflammation and the transformation of healthy cells to cancerous cells over the course of time.

Mesothelioma is predominantly a cancer of pleura which is the tissue that protects the lung. However, it can affect other organs such as the stomach and the heart.

People with a blue-collar or military background are more likely to be exposed to asbestos as they work in certain industries or in the military. However those who have been exposed to asbestos at home or from other sources may be at risk.

People with the BAP1 mutation also have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. They are usually diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

Gender

Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women. This is probably due to the fact that men worked in industries more susceptible to asbestos exposure. Men could also have brought home the asbestos fibers on their clothing from job sites. Asbestos is usually found in mines and factories and those that produced asbestos products such as insulation, pipes tiles, cement and tiles most susceptible to developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has also been found in those who built or repaired railroad or automotive products, as well as those who built ships and manufactured gas masks. Exposure to chrysotile, the most well-known type of asbestos, is generally associated with mesothelioma.

The chance of developing mesothelioma is increased with the length and intensity of exposure to asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma occur in people who have been exposed to asbestos for a period of 30 or more years. The length of time a person's latency may also vary depending on their gender and type of asbestos exposure.

While it isn't known the reason, women appear to have a longer latency period for mesothelioma than males. One reason is that many of the women with mesothelioma worked as domestic workers and could have come in contact with asbestos from washing the work clothes of their fathers, husbands and brothers.

When mesothelioma was a more prevalent disease, asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial and domestic building materials. The fibers could be found in insulation, drywall paint, pipe coating and cement. Many of these products were used in workplaces and homes where asbestos was frequently disturbed during renovations or construction.

While mesothelioma was used as an industrial product, asbestos was found in a variety of structures, including schools, churches, hospitals, and offices. A lot of these structures were constructed prior to the 1980s, when asbestos legal was banned.

Asbestos is a nebulous substance, and researchers are still studying its health effects, especially mesothelioma. Research is looking into how asbestos affects both the lungs as well as the gastrointestinal tract, which is the area where mesothelioma most commonly affects patients. They are also investigating whether different factors might influence mesothelioma rates, such as gender and level of exposure to asbestos legal.

Work History

A person is more likely to develop mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure when they worked in an industry where asbestos was utilized for a long time. Asbestos was widely used in construction and building, especially from the 1920s through the 1980s. Many jobs were at risk of exposure, including manufacturing, mining power generation, shipbuilding, and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is resistant to heat and tough which makes it suitable for a variety products. The fibers of asbestos lawsuit are used in brake pads, insulation, and roofing, to name a few. When asbestos is cut or smashed, it releases tiny particles that can be inhaled or ingested.

It can be diagnosed earlier than 60 years. It can develop in the lung (pleural mesothelioma), the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma) or in the abdomen.

People who have a family history of mesothelioma are also more likely to develop mesothelioma, but it isn't clear the reason. Mesothelioma is linked to an inherited mutation in the gene BAP1 but it's a rare.

A person could be at risk for mesothelioma if they were in a relationship with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos fibers home on their clothes or hair, skin or even the hair. This is known as secondary exposure. People who work in industries with high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home fibers on their clothing and shoes. These fibers could be breathed in by family members or consumed at home.

Asbestosis, a related lung disease to mesothelioma often occurs as a result of breathing asbestos fibers. Asbestosis typically develops in the lungs, and can lead to fluid buildup around the ribcage, difficulty breathing as well as chest pain and a lump on the ribcage.

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world, mostly because asbestos legal was used extensively here throughout the years in construction, manufacturing and mining. A doctor first discovered the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which led England to pass laws that regulated asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations forced companies to install ventilation systems and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Mesothelioma, like many cancers is caused by cells that are unable to receive genetic information. They grow unchecked. The cells can develop into tumors when they are found in the lung and abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or in the heart (pericardium). There is no cure for mesothelioma. However there are a variety of factors that increase your risk of getting the disease.

Asbestos exposure is a major mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and chest wall, which can cause mesothelioma. People exposed to asbestos while at work are more likely to developing mesothelioma than those who were not exposed. The type of asbestos the person was exposed to is also a significant factor. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs and individual's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos has a higher risk of mesothelioma than amphiboles such as amosite or crocidolite.

Mesothelioma can also be an indicator of risk for those who have an ancestral history. Mesothelioma is uncommon in younger and children, but it can develop in young adults if they were around an adult who worked with asbestos. People who live with a mesothelioma sufferer or with mesothelioma are at a slightly higher risk of developing the disease due to the fact that they inhale asbestos fibers on clothing, skin and hair.

The kind of work an individual performed can affect the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. People who worked on power plants, ships or other areas where asbestos was used have more mesothelioma risks than those who were not exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma rates are higher for people who work in certain fields, like construction or manufacturing.

The gender, age and race can also play a role in the mesothelioma-related experience. Men and those with a family history of mesothelioma are more likely to develop mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries and men are more likely than others to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.