Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The chance of getting mesothelioma is increased when exposed to asbestos. It's not clear whether the risk decreases when exposure ceases.

A mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers get stuck in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are several kinds of mesothelioma. There are a variety of mesothelioma.

Age

The probability of developing mesothelioma varies based on a variety of factors. This includes the age of their initial exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos used and the duration of the exposure. The symptoms of mesothelioma usually start in the lungs, and then spread to other areas. So, people who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are the most likely to develop this disease. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the lining of the abdomen, the peritoneum, are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The more severe mesothelioma becomes, the more old the person who is diagnosed. This is due to the 20-60 year latency period between exposure to asbestos and the first symptom of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with fibrous bundles that form thin sheets or clump together to create an impermeable material. Between the 1930s to 1980s its flexibility and strength made asbestos a very popular material. In this period millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through secondary or occupational exposure. Occupational exposure occurs when workers are exposed to asbestos at work. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are brought home on clothing, hair or skin and unknowingly inhaled by family members.

Inhaling asbestos fibers cause irritation to the lung's lining as well as other organs like the heart. Over time this irritation may cause inflammation, scarring, and mutation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Mesothelioma lung cancer, also known as mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the pleura. However, it can affect other organs such as the stomach and heart.

People with a blue-collar, military or background are more likely to be exposed asbestos as 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 be at risk.

People with the BAP1 mutation also have a higher likelihood of developing mesothelioma. These individuals are typically diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

Gender

Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma more than women. This is likely because men worked in industries more susceptible to asbestos exposure. Men may have also carried home the asbestos law fibers on their clothing from work locations. 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. Mesothelioma also occurs in those who repaired or built railroad and automobile products as well as those who constructed ships and masks. Exposure to chrysotile, the most common type of asbestos is typically related to mesothelioma.

The likelihood of developing mesothelioma is increased with the duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos. The majority of cases of mesothelioma happen in people who have been exposed to asbestos for 30 or more years. A person's latency period may also vary depending on their gender as well as the kind of asbestos exposure.

Although it isn't clear the reason, women appear to have a longer latency period for mesothelioma than men. One reason could be that a lot of the women who developed mesothelioma worked as housekeepers and could have come into contact with asbestos through washing the work clothes of their fathers, husbands and brothers.

In the past, when mesothelioma was more prevalent, asbestos was used in a wide variety of domestic and commercial building materials. The fibers were found in insulation, drywall, paint, pipe coating and cement. Many of these materials were used in workplaces and homes where asbestos was often disturbed by construction or renovations.

Although mesothelioma wasn't being used as an industrial product, asbestos was found in a variety of buildings, including schools, hospitals, churches and offices. A majority of these buildings were built before the 1980s, when asbestos was banned.

Asbestos is a complex substance, and scientists are still studying its health effects, specifically mesothelioma. Studies are looking at how asbestos affects the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract, which is where mesothelioma typically affects patients. They are also investigating the impact of different factors on mesothelioma rates, such as gender and exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is more likely to get mesothelioma from asbestos exposure when they worked in an industry where asbestos was used for many years. Asbestos was used extensively in construction and building in the 1920s through the 1980s. Many jobs were susceptible to exposure, such as mining, manufacturing, power generation, shipbuilding, and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is an naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is strong and heat-resistant, which makes it suitable for various products. The fibers of asbestos are used to make insulation, brake pads and roofing, among others. When asbestos is cut or smashed, it releases microscopic particles that may be breathed in or swallowed.

It can begin to develop earlier than 60 years of age. It can develop in the lungs, in the chest wall (peritoneal pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen.

It is not known why people who have a history of mesothelioma are at a higher risk of developing the disease. A mutation in a gene known as BAP1 has been linked to mesothelioma, but it is rare.

A person is also at risk for mesothelioma if they lived 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 referred to as secondary exposure. Workers in industries that have high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home-grown fibers onto their shoes and clothing. These fibers could be breathed in by family members or consumed at home.

Asbestosis is a lung condition to mesothelioma is often the result of breathing asbestos fibers. Asbestosis usually develops in the lungs, and can lead to fluid buildup around the rib cage and cause breathing difficulties and coughing, chest pain and a lump on the ribcage.

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma the world, due to the fact that asbestos was widely used in Australia for a long time in construction, manufacturing and mining. A doctor first identified the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which helped drive England to pass laws that regulated asbestos in the 1930s. These laws forced companies to install ventilation equipment and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Mesothelioma, as with many cancers is caused by cells that receive faulty genetic information. They multiply unchecked. These cells can cause tumors when they are found in the lungs and abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or in the heart (pericardium). There is no cure for mesothelioma but there are several risk factors that could increase the likelihood of developing this disease.

Asbestos exposure is the primary mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers that are inhaled into the lungs irritate the lung's lining as well as the chest wall, which can cause mesothelioma. The people who are exposed to asbestos in the workplace have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who were not exposed. The type of asbestos the person was exposed to is also important. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs as well as a person's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos has a higher risk of mesothelioma than amphiboles such as crocidolite or amosite.

Mesothelioma can also be an indicator of risk for someone if they have an ancestral history. Mesothelioma is rare in younger adults and children, but it can develop in young adults if they were around an adult who worked with asbestos. Individuals who are mesothelioma patient or a person with mesothelioma are at an increased risk of developing the disease because they are more likely to breathe in stray asbestos fibers that are on hair, skin and clothing.

The type of work a person performed can affect the risk of developing mesothelioma. Workers who worked on power plants, ships or other locations where asbestos was used have a higher mesothelioma risk than those who were not exposed to asbestos. People who worked in certain industries, such as construction and manufacturing, also have a higher rate of mesothelioma than other industries.

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