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Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure The people who use products that contain asbestos are at risk of ingesting asbestos fibers. The fibers are absorbed into the tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, also referred to as the peritoneum and pleura. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mysothelioma or peritoneal cancer over the course of your life. Although the risk appears to decrease after 40 years, asbestos exposure of any kind is dangerous. Age The older the person is exposed to the environment, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that surrounds major organs in the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they expand beyond control and form tumors. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in those who have been exposed to asbestos, either in their work or as a family member of someone who was exposed to asbestos. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma because it causes irritation to the mesothelium. The lung's lining (pleura) is most affected in people with pleural mesothelioma, although it can also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum, as well as the heart lining (pericardium). Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is strong and heat resistant. It was used in insulation, construction and other industrial applications until the 1980s. During this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos due to their jobs or by being close to a loved one. When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers into the air. They are too tough for the body's systems to break them into pieces or process. The fibers can cause irritation and cancer in the lungs if they become stuck. Mesothelioma symptoms are typically not likely to manifest until a long time after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to those of other cancers and can be fatal if not treated. Mesothelioma affects men more often than women, and is the most frequently diagnosed in people over age 45. Miners, shipbuilders and railroad workers, and those who handled asbestos-containing products are at most risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to asbestos exposure in the workplace. Family members of these people are also at a higher risk due to the fact that asbestos can be absorbed into their clothing. Smoking A person's chances of getting mesothelioma increases the longer they are exposed to asbestos. This is due to the lengthy time of latency, which can be between 20 and 60 year from the first exposure to diagnosis. Mesothelioma may occur in different parts of the body, based on the type and amount of asbestos. The wall of the chest and lung cavity (the pleura) is affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining of the abdomen and is also known as the peritoneum. Most often, those who have been exposed to radiation develop mesothelioma that affects the chest or lungs. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding, and construction industries are most at risk. However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in people who were exposed to asbestos at home or in school. This is because children and spouses of workers who were exposed to asbestos could take the fibers home on their clothes, skin and hair, which puts them at risk of developing the disease. Mesothelioma patients tend to be white and older than 65. They are also more likely to have a blue-collar job or a 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 asbestos. Mesothelioma may develop when DNA of an individual undergoes alterations that cause cells to multiply without control. This results in the development of tumors, which then transform into mesothelioma. The disease can affect the whole body however it is most common in the chest and abdomen. Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma, but it increases the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos one breathes. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should stop smoking. In addition, a mesothelioma treatment program should include an expert in asbestos exposure and the risk factors that can cause this cancer. A mesothelioma specialist who is experienced to assist them determine the best way to treat this rare cancer. The doctor can determine whether the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments. Asbestos Exposure Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is utilized in many different products such as flooring, insulation, roofing and flooring. Workers who handle, manufacture or work with asbestos-containing products are at high risk for exposure. The exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to breathing them into the lungs where they can cause illness or cancer. There is a long time of latency between the 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 no exception. Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure. Occupational exposure is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. Construction, manufacturing, electrical and auto mechanic jobs all require the handling of asbestos-containing components and materials. Some people are also exposed to asbestos through home activities, such as smoking, or renovating older homes that contain asbestos. Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos particles that are inhaled may travel into the lungs and cause irritation to the pleura, the lining of the lungs. This irritation causes the development of thickened pleura patches (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. People who are exposed to asbestos at work are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. However, those with an ancestor with mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses, are also at risk. The risk of asbestos exposure is higher if one has worked in more than one job in the course of their lives. Smoking cigarettes does not increase the likelihood of mesothelioma but it can make the illness worse for those who have already been diagnosed. If you have an history of exposure to asbestos and experience mesothelioma quitting smoking may prolong your life and improve your treatment outcome. It is crucial to inform your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new symptoms, like shortness of breath or abdominal pain, as they can treat the disease by using medication or surgery. Genetics Many cancers are genetically linked which means that a person's genes can increase the chances of developing a specific disease. Mesothelioma, however, does not have a genetic component. Instead, exposure to asbestos is the primary factor. Asbestos fibers can get into the body through inhalation or swallowing and stick to the tissues of the chest, abdomen or heart. As time passes, these loose fibers can damage or mutate the cells that make up these small linings, which can lead to mesothelioma's development. However, mesothelioma may not affect all people who are exposed. Researchers believe other factors can determine if a person develops mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This includes the person's age, gender, the family history of mesothelioma as well as other diseases as in addition to any other risk factors, such as smoking. Mesothelioma is more likely to occur in males than females. This could be due to the fact that more men than women were exposed directly to asbestos at work. Additionally, it takes between 20 and 60 years for mesothelioma to develop after a person's first exposure to asbestos. A faulty gene is another risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study of two families with mesothelioma incidences that were high scientists discovered that nearly all members of the family had an abnormal gene on the short arm of chromosome 3 The gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves within cells. With a faulty gene, this process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones, causing mesothelioma. In Cape Coral asbestos attorney within the immune system of a person could increase the risk of developing mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos. People who have this mutation have lower levels of white blood cells which are the cells that fight off cancerous cells. The type of asbestos to which an individual was exposed as well as their work can also increase a person's risk of developing mesothelioma. In addition the polio vaccine that was given to children in the 1940s and 1950s could increase the risk of mesothelioma because it exposed them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.