Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The chance of developing mesothelioma is increased when exposed to asbestos. It's not known whether the risk decreases when exposure ends.

The mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers are trapped in the lung's lining (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are different types of mesothelioma. There are several types of mesothelioma.

Age

The likelihood of a person developing mesothelioma varies based on a number of factors. This includes the age at which their initial exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos used and the time of exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms usually start in the lungs before spreading to other areas of the body. 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 and peritoneum are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

Typically, the older someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, more severe the condition is. This is due to the 20-60 year latency period between exposure to asbestos and the first symptom of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally with fibrous bundles that form thin sheets or clump together into an impermeable material. From the 1930s until the 1980s its flexibility and strength made asbestos a popular material. During this time, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos via secondary or occupational exposure. Workplace exposure occurs when employees are exposed to asbestos in their workplace. Secondary exposure is when asbestos fibers are brought home on clothing, hair or skin and unknowingly inhaled by family members.

When inhaled, asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the lung's lining and other organs like the heart. This irritation can cause scarring, inflammation, and the mutation of healthy cells into cancerous cells over the course of time.

Mesothelioma, or lung cancer is a form of cancer that affects the pleura. It can also affect other parts of the body, such as the heart and stomach.

People with a blue-collar or military 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 could also be at risk.

People with the BAP1 mutation also have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. They are typically 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 industries more susceptible to asbestos exposure. Men could also have brought home the asbestos fibers on their clothes from work places. Asbestos is most often found in factories and mines which produce asbestos products such as pipes, insulation tiles, cement and tiles most susceptible to developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is also found in workers who repaired or built automobile and railroad products, as well as those who constructed ships and masks. Exposure to chrysotile, the most well-known type of asbestos, is generally associated with mesothelioma.

The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with the duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma occur in those who have been exposed to asbestos for more than 30 years. A person's latency period may also vary depending on their gender and kind of asbestos exposure.

Although it isn't clear what exactly causes this, women appear to have a longer time to develop for mesothelioma than men. One reason is that many of the women who develop mesothelioma were domestic workers and could have come in contact with asbestos while washing the work clothes of their husbands, fathers 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 employed in workplaces and homes in which asbestos settlement was often disturbed by renovations or construction.

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

Asbestos is a complicated substance, and researchers continue to study its effects on health, particularly mesothelioma. Research studies are investigating how asbestos affects both the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract, which is where mesothelioma typically affects patients. They are also investigating the impact of different factors on mesothelioma rate, including gender and the level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is more likely to develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure working in an industry where asbestos was used for many years. Asbestos was extensively used in building and construction, especially from the 1920s through the 1980s. Many occupations were at risk of exposure, including manufacturing, mining power generation, shipbuilding, and asbestos law removal.

Asbestos is an naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is strong and heat resistant, which made it useful in various products. The fibers of asbestos are used in insulation, brake pads and roofing, to name a few. When asbestos is cut or disturbed it releases tiny particles that can be ingested or inhaled.

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

It isn't known why people with mesothelioma-related history are at higher risk of developing the disease. Mesothelioma is a result of an inherited mutation in the gene BAP1 however it's not a common.

A person is also at risk for mesothelioma if they grew up with someone who worked with asbestos settlement and then brought the asbestos fibers home on their clothes or hair, skin or even the hair. This is called secondary exposure. Workers in areas that are exposed to asbestos are at risk of bringing home fibers onto their footwear and clothing. They can be breathed in or ingested by loved ones at home.

Asbestosis, which is a lung disease to mesothelioma typically occurs as a result of breathing asbestos fibers. Asbestosis usually develops in the lungs and can lead to fluid buildup around the rib cage as well as breathing problems, a cough, chest pain, and an ribcage lump.

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma the world, mainly because asbestos was extensively used here throughout the years in construction, manufacturing and mining. A doctor first reported the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which helped drive England to pass laws that regulated asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations required businesses to install ventilation equipment as well as other safety equipment.

Smoking

Like other types of cancer, mesothelioma caused when cells receive faulty genetic information and multiply without checking. When these cells are in the lung (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the heart (pericardium) they may cause abnormal growths called tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma. However, there are several factors that could increase the risk of developing the disease.

Asbestos exposure is the most significant mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and chest wall, which can result in mesothelioma. People exposed to asbestos at work have a higher chance of developing mesothelioma than people who were not exposed. The type of asbestos the person was exposed to is also important. Different types of asbestos legal have a different impact on the lungs and a person's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos is more prone to mesothelioma than amphiboles like crocidolite or amosite.

A person's mesothelioma-related family history also contributes to the risk of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is not common in children and younger adults however, it can occur in young adults if they were an adult who worked with asbestos. People who are mesothelioma patient or a person who has mesothelioma have a slightly higher 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 job the person was employed at can influence the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. Workers who worked on power plants, ships or other locations where asbestos was used have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma than those who were not exposed to asbestos. People who worked in certain industries, like manufacturing and construction, also have a higher rate of mesothelioma than other industries.

The gender, age and race of a person could affect their mesothelioma. Men and those who have a family history are more likely to get mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries and men are more likely than others to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.