Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The chance of getting mesothelioma increases with exposure to asbestos. It's not known if the risk decreases once exposure ceases.

A mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers become stuck in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are several types of mesothelioma. There are several types of mesothelioma.

Age

The chance of developing mesothelioma varies based on a variety of variables. These include the age of the person's first exposure to asbestos and the type of asbestos used and the duration of the exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms typically begin in the lungs, and then spread to other body parts. Thus, those who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are more 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.

Typically, the older someone is when they are diagnosed with mesothelioma, more severe the condition is. 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 that can form into thin sheets or clump together to create an impermeable material. Between the 1930s to 1980s, its flexibility and durability made asbestos a very popular material. In this period millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through occupational or secondary 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 then inhaled by family members.

Once inhaled, asbestos fibers cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and other organs like the heart. This irritation can cause scarring, inflammation, and the mutation of healthy cells into cancerous cells over time.

Mesothelioma is predominantly a cancer of pleura which is the tissue that is around the lung. However, it can also affect other organs such as the stomach and the 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 at home or from other sources may be at risk.

Additionally, people who receive the BAP1 gene mutation have a greater chance of developing mesothelioma compared to those who do not suffer from this condition. They are typically diagnosed between 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. They may also have carried home the asbestos fibers on their clothes from work places. Asbestos is typically found in mines and factories, with those that made asbestos products such as pipes, insulation tiles, cement and tiles the most at risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma also occurs in workers who repair or construct automobile and railroad equipment, as well as those who constructed ships and masks. Chrysotile exposure, which is the most common type of asbestos is usually related to mesothelioma.

The chance of developing mesothelioma is increased depending on the duration and severity of exposure to asbestos. Most mesothelioma cases occur in people who have been exposed to asbestos for 30 or more years. The time of a person's latency can differ 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 latency period for mesothelioma compared to 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 clothes of their husbands, fathers and brothers.

When mesothelioma was a more prevalent disease, asbestos was used in a variety of domestic and commercial building materials. The fibers were used in pipe coatings, drywalls, paints, and cements. Many of these products were used in workplaces and homes, where the asbestos was frequently disturbed during renovations or construction.

Even when mesothelioma was being employed as an industrial product, asbestos was found in a variety of buildings, including schools, hospitals, churches and offices. A lot of these structures were built before the 1980s which was when asbestos was banned.

Asbestos is a complicated substance, and scientists continue to study its effects on health, particularly mesothelioma. Research is looking into how asbestos claim affects both the lungs and the digestive 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 the level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

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

Asbestos is an naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is extremely durable and heat resistant, which can be used in many different products. The fibers of asbestos are used for brake pads, insulation, and roofing, to name a few. When asbestos is cut or disturbed and released, it releases tiny particles that can be breathed in or swallowed.

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

People with a family history of mesothelioma also have higher risks of the disease, though it's not clear the reason. Mesothelioma is linked to an inherited mutation in the gene BAP1 however it's not a common.

A person could be at risk of mesothelioma in the event that they grew up with someone who worked with asbestos litigation and then brought the asbestos fibers home on their clothes hair, skin and even their hair. This is referred to as secondary exposure. Workers in industries that have high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home fibers on their clothing and shoes. They can be breathed in or ingested by family members at home.

Asbestosis, a related lung disease to mesothelioma typically 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 most mesothelioma-related deaths in the world, mostly because asbestos was extensively used here throughout the years in construction, manufacturing and mining. A doctor first reported the link between asbestos claim and mesothelioma in 1930, which prompted England to pass laws regulating asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations forced companies to install ventilation systems and other safety equipment.

Smoking

As with many kinds of cancer, mesothelioma is caused by cells receiving faulty genetic information and multiply without checking. When these cells are in the lungs (pleura) or abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the heart (pericardium) they may cause abnormal growths, referred to as tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma but there are a number of risk factors that can increase the chances of developing this disease.

Asbestos exposure is the most significant mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers that are inhaled into the lungs can cause irritation to the lung's lining as well as the chest wall, which can result in mesothelioma. People exposed to asbestos attorney while at work have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who were not exposed. The type of asbestos a person was exposed to is also a significant factor. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs and a individual'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 a person if they have an ancestry of the disease. 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. People who live with a mesothelioma patient or a person who has mesothelioma have an increased risk of developing the disease, due to the fact that they inhale asbestos fibers on hair, skin and clothing.

The type of job the person was employed at can impact the risk of developing mesothelioma. People who worked on power plants, ships or other areas where asbestos settlement was used have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma than those who were not exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma rates are higher for people who work in certain industries such as manufacturing or construction.

The gender, age and race of a person may also affect their mesothelioma. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females and those who have a family history of the disease. This is because women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries and men are more likely than other people to be exposed to asbestos at work.