Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure People who use products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers https//vimeocom/704723732 penetrate the tissue of the chest cavity or abdomen, also known as the peritoneum and pleura Exposure to asbestos can increase the chance of developing malignant pleural mysothelioma or peritoneal cancer throughout your lifetime Although the risk appears to decrease after more than 40 years of exposure, even a small amount of asbestos exposure is dangerous Age The older a person gets exposed to the environment, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the mesothel an extremely thin layer that surrounds the major organs of the body The cancerous cells are malignant, which means they expand beyond control and form tumors Mesothelioma usually affects those who have been exposed to asbestos This could be through their work or by being a close family member Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma due to the irritation of the mesothelium Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lungs' linings, but it can also affect the abdomen's lining and peritoneum, as well as the heart lining Asbestos is a heat-resistant and long-lasting mineral It was used for construction, insulation, and for other industrial uses until the 1980s In the 1980s many millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos as a result of their work or by being around an asbestos-exposed loved one When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air They can be breathed in, and they are too tough for the body to break down or process The fibers could cause irritation and cancer in the lungs if they get stuck Mesothelioma symptoms typically do not show up until years after exposure to asbestos The symptoms are similar to those of other cancers and can be fatal if left untreated Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma than females It is also diagnosed most often for those who are older than 45 Miners, shipbuilders, railroad workers, and others who work with asbestos-containing products are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma thanks to workplace asbestos exposure The asbestos on the clothing of these individuals could put their family members at risk Smoking The chance of developing mesothelioma increase the longer they're exposed asbestos This is due to the long latency time that can range between 20 and 60 year from the first exposure to diagnosis Depending on the kind of asbestos, a person's mesothelioma may occur in different areas of the body The wall of the chest and the lung cavity the pleura is affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining of the abdomen also known as the peritoneum Most often, those who have been exposed develop mesothelioma in the chest or lung The most at risk are those who worked in the fields of shipbuilding, power production and construction However, mesothelioma is also able to develop in individuals who were exposed to asbestos at home or in school Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers can carry asbestos-containing particles from their workplace home and smear them on their clothes, skin, and hair This puts them at risk Mesothelioma patients are typically white and older than 65 They are also more likely to have a blue-collar occupation or military history Asbestos was widely used by the United States Navy and other branches of the military because of its flame-resistant qualities Millions of veterans were exposed to asbestos Mesothelioma may develop when an individual's DNA undergoes alterations that cause cells to multiply uncontrolled This may lead to development of tumors that eventually develop into mesothelioma The disease can affect the whole body but is most prevalent in the abdomen and chest Smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma However it increases the risk of getting this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos that one breathes Therefore, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should consider stopping smoking Furthermore, a person's mesothelioma therapy plan should include an experienced doctor who is knowledgeable about asbestos exposure and the risk factors associated with this type of cancer A mesothelioma specialist can help determine the best treatment option for this rare cancer The specialist will be able to determine whether a patient is suitable for immunotherapy or experimental treatments Asbestos Exposure Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is utilized in many different products, including flooring, insulation, roofing and flooring Workers who handle asbestos-containing materials and manufacture them, or work with them are at a greater risk of exposure Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can result in breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs, where they can cause illness or cancer Many asbestos-related diseases aren't recognized until it is too late due to a long latency period between exposure and the appearance of symptoms Mesothelioma is the most deadly of asbestos diseases, is no exception Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 year after asbestos exposure Exposure to occupational hazards is the most common way that people are exposed Any job that involves asbestos handling or usage include those in construction, manufacturing automobile mechanics, construction, and electrical People can also be exposed to asbestos through home activities such as smoking or renovating older homes that have asbestos Inhalation of asbestos is the main mesothelioma-related cause As asbestos fibers inhaled can travel to the lung, where they can cause irritation to the lining known as pleura This irritation can result in thickened pleura patches pleural plates and fibrosis within the lungs As the disease progresses, it can lead to the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity and eventually 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 the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma But people who have a family history of mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are at risk as well The risk of exposure to asbestos is increased if a person has worked in more than one job in the course of their life Smoking can increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can also aggravate the condition for those already diagnosed Quitting smoking cigarettes is beneficial if have an exposure to asbestos in the past and suffer from mesothelioma It can also allow you to live longer and enhance the results of your treatment It is crucial to inform your doctor about the exposure to asbestos as well as any new symptoms, such as breathlessness or abdominal pain, since they can treat the disease with medication or surgery Genetics Many cancers are linked to genetics which means that genetic factors can increase their chances of developing a particular disease Mesothelioma, however not have a genetic component Exposure to asbestos is the primary reason Asbestos fibers are introduced into the body via inhalation or swallowed, and they stick to the chest's lining the pleura, the abdomen the peritoneum or around the heart the pericardium Over time the loose fibers could cause damage or alteration to the cells that comprise these tiny linings, which could lead to mesothelioma development However there is a chance that not everyone who is exposed to asbestos gets mesothelioma Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether a person develops mesothelioma after asbestos exposure This could include a person's age and gender as well as their family history of mesothelioma and other diseases and whether they have additional risk factors such as smoking Mesothelioma is more likely to occur in males than females This could be because men were more likely than women to have been directly exposed asbestos while at work Mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma In the study of two families with high mesothelioma risk scientists discovered that nearly all members of the family had a defective gene on the short arm of chromosome 3 This gene is known as BAP 1 and regulates the way calcium moves through cells When a gene is not functioning properly this process is broken and calcium levels decrease This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and trigger mesothelioma A gene that is mutated can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure People with this gene mutation have a lower level of white blood cells which are the cells that fight off cancerous cells The kind of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and their occupation can also increase a person's risk of developing mesothelioma The polio vaccine that was given to children between 1940 and 1950, could also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma through exposure to cancer-causing SV40