Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with exposure to asbestos. However, it's not well understood whether the risk decreases after exposure ends.

The mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers get stuck in the lung's lining (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are various kinds of mesothelioma. They include:

Age

A person's chances of getting mesothelioma depend on several factors. This includes the age of the person's first exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos and the length of exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms usually begin in the lungs before spreading to other areas of the body. So, people who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are most likely to develop this condition. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the abdomen's lining, the peritoneum, are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The more serious mesothelioma is, the older the person is when diagnosed. This is due to the 20-60 year time between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a natural mineral with fibrous bundles which can form into thin sheets or clump together to form an impermeable material. Between the 1930s and 1980s its durability and flexibility made asbestos a sought-after material. In this period millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos via occupational or secondary exposure. Occupational exposure occurs when workers are exposed to asbestos in their work. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are carried to home via hair, clothing or skin and inhaled by family members.

Inhaling asbestos fibers irritate the lung's lining and other organs, including the heart. In time, this irritation can cause inflammation, scarring and the transformation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Mesothelioma is primarily a cancer of the pleura, which is the tissue that is around the lungs. However, it can affect other organs like the stomach and the heart.

People who have a blue-collar or military background are more likely to be exposed asbestos when they work in certain industries or in the military. However, those who have been exposed to asbestos in their homes or from other sources can also be at risk.

People who have the BAP1 mutation also have a higher chance of developing mesothelioma. The majority of them are diagnosed between 50 and 70.

Gender

Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. This is probably due to the fact that men worked in areas that were more vulnerable to asbestos exposure. Men could also have brought home the asbestos fibers on their clothing from work locations. Asbestos is typically found in factories and mines and those that produced asbestos products such as pipes, insulation tiles, cement and tiles the most at risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can also be found in those who repaired or built automobile and railroad products as well as those who constructed ships and masks. Chrysotile exposure, which is the most well-known type of asbestos is typically associated with mesothelioma.

The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with the length and intensity of exposure to asbestos. Most mesothelioma cases occur in those who have been exposed to asbestos for 30 or more years. A person's latency period may be different based on their gender and the type of asbestos exposure.

Although it isn't clear what exactly causes this, women appear to have a longer period of latency for mesothelioma than men. One reason could be that a lot of the women with mesothelioma worked as housekeepers and could have come in contact with asbestos through 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 residential building materials. The fibers were present in insulation, drywall pipe coating, paint and cement. Many of these materials were used in homes and workplaces where asbestos was frequently disturbed during renovations or construction.

Even when mesothelioma was being used as an industrial substance, asbestos was found in a variety of structures, including schools, churches, hospitals, and offices. Many of these buildings were constructed prior to the 1980s, when asbestos was banned.

Asbestos is a nebulous substance, so researchers continue to study its health effects, especially mesothelioma. Studies are looking at how asbestos affects the lungs as well as the gastrointestinal tract, which is the area where mesothelioma typically affects patients. They are also examining whether different factors might influence mesothelioma rates, such as gender and level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is most likely to develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure working in an industry where asbestos was extensively used. Asbestos was used extensively in construction and building in the 1920s until the 1980s. Numerous jobs were susceptible to exposure, such as mining, manufacturing, power generation, shipbuilding, and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous minerals. It is durable and heat resistant, which can be used in a variety of products. The fibers of asbestos are used for insulation, brake pads and roofing, to name a few. When asbestos is cut or disturbed it releases microscopic particles that can be inhaled or ingested.

Mesothelioma typically takes between 20 and 60 years following the initial exposure to develop, but it can develop much earlier than that. It can occur in the lung (pleural mesothelioma) as well as the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the abdomen.

It is unclear the reason why those with a history of mesothelioma are more at risk of developing the disease. A mutation in the gene known as BAP1 has been linked to mesothelioma but it is rare.

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

Asbestosis, a related lung condition to mesothelioma typically occurs as a result of breathing asbestos law fibers. Asbestosis typically develops in the lungs, and can cause fluid accumulation around the rib cage and cause breathing difficulties, a cough, chest pain, and an ribcage lump.

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma the world, mainly because asbestos was used extensively here for a long time in construction manufacturing, mining and manufacturing. A doctor first reported the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which led England to adopt laws regulating asbestos lawsuit in the 1930s. These laws forced companies to install ventilation equipment and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Like other types of cancer, mesothelioma can be caused by cells that receive incorrect genetic information and multiply unchecked. These cells can cause tumors when they are found in the lung and abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or heart (pericardium). There is no cure for mesothelioma, but there are a number of risk factors that increase the chance of developing this disease.

Asbestos exposure is a major mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs can cause irritation to the lung's lining as well as the chest wall, which may result in mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos at work have a higher chance of developing mesothelioma than those who were not exposed. The type of asbestos a person was exposed to is also important. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs and a individual's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos case poses a greater risk of mesothelioma compared to amphiboles, such as crocidolite or amosite.

A person's mesothelioma history in the family is also a factor in the mesothelioma risks. Mesothelioma is rare in younger adults and children however, it can occur in young adults if they were an adult who worked with asbestos. People who are mesothelioma patient or a person with mesothelioma are at a slightly higher risk of developing the disease, because they can inhale asbestos fibers that are on hair, skin, and clothing.

The kind of work the person was employed at can affect the risk of developing mesothelioma. People who worked on power plants, ships or other locations where asbestos was used have more mesothelioma risks than those who were not exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma rates are greater for those working in certain fields, like manufacturing or construction.

The race, gender, age and gender could also play a role in his or her mesothelioma-related experience. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females and those who have a family history of the disease. This is due to the fact that women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries and men are more likely than other individuals to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.