Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The chance of getting mesothelioma increases when exposed to asbestos. It's still not known if the risk decreases once exposure has ended.

A mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers are trapped in the lung's lining (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are a variety of types of mesothelioma. There are several types of mesothelioma.

Age

A person's chances of getting mesothelioma is based on a variety of factors. This includes the age at which the first exposure to asbestos, the type of asbestos used and the length of exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms usually start in the lungs, and then spread to other areas of the body. Therefore, those who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are more likely to develop the condition. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

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

Asbestos is a natural mineral with fibrous bundles that can form into thin sheets or clump together to create an impermeable material. From the 1930s until the 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 in their workplace. Secondary exposure is when asbestos fibers are brought to home via hair, clothing or skin, and then inhaled by family members.

Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and other organs, including the heart. Over time, this irritation can cause scarring, inflammation and mutation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Mesothelioma is predominantly a cancer of pleura which is the tissue that protects the lung. However, it can affect other organs like the stomach and the heart.

People who have a blue-collar or military background are more likely to be exposed to asbestos as they work in certain industries or serve in the military. However those who have been exposed to asbestos litigation at home or from other sources could also be at risk.

People with the BAP1 mutation also have a higher likelihood of developing mesothelioma. The majority of them are diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

Gender

Mesothelioma is more common in men than in women. This is due to the fact that males worked in industries more susceptible to asbestos exposure. Men could also have brought home the asbestos case fibers on their clothing from work sites. Asbestos is usually found in mines and factories which produce asbestos products such as pipes, insulation, tiles and cement most at risk of developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has been found in those who built or repaired railroad or automotive products, as well as those who built ships and produced gas masks. Chrysotile exposure, which is the most popular type of asbestos is usually associated with mesothelioma.

The likelihood of developing mesothelioma increases depending on the duration and severity 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 be different based on their gender and the type of asbestos exposure.

It is unclear why women have a higher time to develop mesothelioma. One reason could be that a lot of the women who developed mesothelioma were domestic workers and may have come into contact with asbestos while washing the clothes of their fathers, husbands and brothers.

In the past, when mesothelioma was more prevalent, asbestos was used in a wide variety of commercial and residential building materials. The fibers were present in drywalls, pipe coatings as well as paints and cements. Many of these products were used in workplaces and homes, where the asbestos was frequently disturbed by construction or renovations.

Even when mesothelioma was being used as an industrial product, asbestos was found in many types of buildings, including schools, churches, hospitals and offices. A majority of these buildings were constructed before the 1980s in which asbestos was banned.

Asbestos is a nebulous substance, and researchers continue to study its effects on health, particularly mesothelioma. Studies are looking at how asbestos affects the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract, which is the area where mesothelioma is most often found in patients. They are also looking into how different factors can affect mesothelioma rate, including gender and the level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is most likely to get mesothelioma from asbestos exposure if they worked in an industry where asbestos was extensively used. Asbestos was extensively used in building and construction in the 1920s until the 1980s. Many occupations were at risk of exposure including manufacturing, mining power generation, shipbuilding and asbestos removal.

asbestos litigation is a naturally occurring fibrous minerals. It is extremely durable and heat resistant, which made it useful in many different products. The fibers of asbestos are used to make brake pads, insulation, and roofing, to name a few. When asbestos is cut or smashed and released, it releases tiny particles that can be inhaled or ingested.

Mesothelioma typically takes 20 to 60 years following the initial exposure to develop, but it can develop much earlier than that. It can be found in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma) or in the abdomen.

People who have mesothelioma-related family history also have higher risks of the disease, though it isn't clear why. A mutation in a gene called BAP1 has been linked to mesothelioma however, it's not a common.

A person could be at risk of developing mesothelioma if they were in a relationship with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos fibers to their clothing or hair, skin or even the hair. This is known as secondary exposure. Workers in industries with high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home fibers on their footwear and clothing. These fibers could be breathed in by family members, or eaten at home.

Asbestosis, which is a lung condition to mesothelioma, often occurs as a result of breathing in asbestos fibers. Asbestosis is most often seen in the lungs, and can lead to fluid buildup around the ribcage and cause breathing difficulties as well as chest pain, and a lump on the ribcage.

Australia has one of the most mesothelioma-related deaths in the world, due to the fact that asbestos was extensively used here throughout the years in construction, manufacturing and mining. A doctor first discovered the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which led England to adopt laws regulating asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations forced businesses to install ventilation systems and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Like other types of cancer, mesothelioma caused by cells receiving faulty genetic information and multiply unchecked. These cells can form tumors if they are located in the lung and abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the heart (pericardium). There is no cure for mesothelioma, but there are a variety of risk factors that could increase the chances of developing this disease.

Asbestos exposure is the primary mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs can cause irritation to the lung's lining as well as the chest wall, which could cause 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 have a different impact on the lungs and individual's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos has a higher risk of mesothelioma compared to amphiboles, such as crocidolite or amosite.

A person's family history of mesothelioma also contributes to his or her mesothelioma risk. Mesothelioma is rare in children and younger adults however, it can occur in young adults if they were an adult who was exposed to asbestos. People who are mesothelioma sufferer or with mesothelioma are at an increased chance of developing the disease due to the fact that they breathe in stray asbestos fibers on clothing, skin and hair.

The type of job the person was employed at can impact the risk of developing mesothelioma. Workers who worked on ships, power plants or other locations where asbestos 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 age, gender and race of a person could also affect their mesothelioma. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to women and those who have an ancestral history of the disease. This is because women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries, and men typically were more likely than others to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.