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Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure People who use products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers. The fibers are absorbed into the tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, also known as the peritoneum and pleura. The exposure to asbestos increases the lifelong risk of malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Although the risk is believed to diminish after more than 40 years of exposure, even minimal asbestos exposure is dangerous. Age The older a person gets when they are exposed, the more likely they are to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium – an extremely thin layer that surrounds the major organs of the body. The cancerous cells expand in uncontrolled ways and develop into tumors. Mesothelioma is most often seen in people who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be through their work or being a close family member. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma because it irritates the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most affected in patients suffering from mesothelioma of the pleural region, but it can also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum as well as the lining of the heart (pericardium). Asbestos is a heat-resistant and long-lasting mineral. North Richland Hills asbestos attorney was widely used in construction, insulation and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. During this time, 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 into air. They are too tough for the body's system to break them down or process. The fibers can cause irritation and cancer in the lungs when they get stuck. Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not show up until decades after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are similar to other cancers, and may be fatal without treatment. Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than females. It is also most often diagnosed among those over 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and those who work with asbestos-containing items are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to asbestos exposure in the workplace. The asbestos found on the clothing of these individuals can expose their families to risk. Smoking The longer an individual is exposed to asbestos, the higher the risk of developing mesothelioma. This is due to the long latency time which can range from 20 to 60 years from the first exposure until diagnosis. Mesothelioma may occur in different parts of the body, based on the type and quantity of asbestos present. The lining of the chest wall and lung cavity (the pleura) is afflicted by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal Mesothelioma can be found in the abdomen's lining and is also known as the peritoneum. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos are most often develop mesothelioma in their chests or lungs. Most at risk are those who worked in the fields of shipbuilding, power production and construction. However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in individuals who were exposed to asbestos at home or in school. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos can carry the asbestos fibers home on their clothes, 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 because of its properties to resist flames, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to it. Mesothelioma can form when a person's DNA undergoes mutations, causing cells to multiply uncontrolled. This can lead to the development of tumors that eventually grow into mesothelioma. The disease can affect any part of the body, however the majority of cases occur in the chest or abdomen. Smoking cigarettes 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 to asbestos should quit smoking. The treatment plan of a patient with mesothelioma must 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 be able to determine whether a patient is suitable for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments. Asbestos Exposure Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is used in a variety of products, such as flooring, roofing and insulation. People who work with asbestos-containing materials, manufacture them or work with them are at a greater risk of being exposed. Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can result in breathing them into the lungs, where they cause illness and cancer. There is a long period of latency between the exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms, which makes it difficult to recognize many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most dangerous asbestos-related illness. Mesothelioma symptoms can appear between 20 and 60 year after asbestos exposure. Exposure to occupational hazards is the most common way that people are exposed. Electrical, manufacturing, construction and automobile mechanic jobs all involve handling asbestos-related components and materials. However, people can also be exposed to asbestos by home activities, like smoking cigarettes or the renovation of older homes that contain asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos particles that are inhaled can enter the lungs and irritate 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 may result in the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) and ultimately to lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues of other organs, including the abdomen and heart. Mesothelioma is most common in those who have been exposed to asbestos working. However, people with a family history of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are at risk as well. The risk of asbestos exposure is increased if someone has held more than one job over the course of their lives. Smoking cigarettes does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, however it can make the disease worse for those who have already been diagnosed. If you have an history of exposure to asbestos and are suffering from mesothelioma quitting smoking can help you live longer and improve the treatment outcome. It is crucial to inform your doctor about the exposure to asbestos as well as any new signs, such as shortness of breath or abdominal pain, as they can treat the disease by undergoing surgery or medication. Genetics Many cancers are linked to genetics, which means that a person's genes increase the likelihood of developing a particular illness. Mesothelioma, however, does not have a genetic component. Exposure to asbestos is the most important reason. Asbestos fibers enter the body by being inhaled or swallowed and sticking to the chest's lining (the pleura), the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). Over time the loose fibers could alter or damage the cells that compose these tiny linings, which can lead to the development of mesothelioma. However it is not the case that every person exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma. Researchers believe that other factors could determine if a person develops mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. This could include a person's age and gender, their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases, and whether they have additional risk factors, such as smoking. Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This could be because men were more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop between 20 and 60 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Another risk factor for mesothelioma includes having an infected gene. In a study that looked at two families with high levels of mesothelioma cancer, researchers found that nearly every person in the family had a defective gene located on the short arm of the chromosome 3. The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates how calcium moves within cells. A faulty gene disrupts this process, causing calcium levels to fall. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones, causing mesothelioma. Mutations in a gene can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. The mutated gene results in the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells. Other factors that increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person are the kind of asbestos they were exposed to and their work. In addition the polio vaccine administered to children in the 1940s and 1950s may increase the risk of mesothelioma in a person by exposing them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.