Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with exposure to asbestos. It's not known if the risk decreases once exposure ends.

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

Age

The chances of a person developing mesothelioma is based on a variety of factors. This includes the age of the person's first exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos and the duration of the exposure. The symptoms of mesothelioma usually begin in the lungs and then spread to other parts. Thus, those who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are more likely to develop this disease. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The more severe the mesothelioma, the more advanced the person who is diagnosed. This is due to the 20-60 year period between exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with fibrous bundles which can form thin sheets or clump together into an impermeable material. Between the 1930s to 1980s, its flexibility and durability made asbestos a popular material. In this period, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through occupational or secondary exposure. Workplace exposure occurs when employees are exposed to asbestos in their work. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are carried home on clothing, hair or skin and inhaled by family members.

Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and other organs such as the heart. As time passes, this irritation can cause inflammation, scarring and the transformation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Mesothelioma is primarily a cancer of the pleura, which is the tissue that protects the lungs. However, it may also affect other organs like the stomach and the heart.

People with a blue-collar or military background are more likely to be exposed asbestos when they work in certain industries or in the military. However, those who have been exposed to asbestos in their homes or other sources could also be at risk.

People with the BAP1 mutation also have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. These individuals are usually diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

Gender

Mesothelioma is more common in males than females. This is likely because men were employed in industries that were more prone to asbestos exposure. Men may have also carried home the asbestos fibers on their clothing from job locations. Asbestos is typically found in factories and mines which produce asbestos products such as insulation, pipes, tiles and cement most at risk of developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has been found in those who built or repaired railroad or automotive products, and who built ships and made gas masks. Chrysotile exposure, which is the most common type of asbestos is usually associated with mesothelioma.

The likelihood of developing mesothelioma is increased with the duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos. The majority of cases of mesothelioma happen in people who have been exposed to asbestos for a period of 30 or more years. The length of time a person's latency may also vary depending on their gender and the kind of asbestos exposure.

Although it isn't clear the reason, women appear to have a longer time to develop for mesothelioma than men. One reason is that many of the women with mesothelioma worked as housekeepers and may have come into contact with asbestos from washing the work 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 found in insulation, drywall, paint, pipe coating and cement. Many of these products were employed in workplaces and homes in which asbestos was often disturbed by renovations or construction.

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

Asbestos is a complicated substance, so researchers continue to study its health effects, specifically mesothelioma. Research studies are investigating how asbestos affects both the lungs as well as the gastrointestinal tract, which is the area where mesothelioma most commonly affects patients. They are also investigating how different factors can affect mesothelioma incidence, such as gender and level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is most likely to develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure working in an industry where asbestos was used for many years. Asbestos was widely used in building and construction in the 1920s to the 1980s. Numerous jobs were at risk of exposure including mining, manufacturing power generation, shipbuilding, and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is an naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is heat-resistant and tough which makes it suitable for a variety of products. The fibers of asbestos are used in insulation, brake pads and roofing, to name a few. When asbestos is cut or smashed and released, it releases microscopic particles that can be breathed in or swallowed.

Mesothelioma generally takes between 20 and 60 years after exposure to develop, but it can develop much earlier than that. It can occur in the lungs, in the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma of the pleural) or in the abdomen.

It isn't known the reasons why patients with mesothelioma-related history are at higher risk of developing the disease. Mesothelioma can be linked to an inherited mutation in the gene BAP1, but it's rare.

A person could be at risk of mesothelioma in the event that they were in a relationship with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos fibers to their clothing hair, skin and even their hair. This is referred to as secondary exposure. Workers in areas that are exposed to asbestos are at risk of bringing home fibers onto their clothing and shoes. The fibers can be inhaled by family members or ingested at home.

Asbestosis, which is a lung condition to mesothelioma, often occurs as a result of breathing asbestos fibers. Asbestosis is most often seen in the lungs. It can cause fluid buildup around the rib cage as well as breathing problems, a cough, chest pain and an ribcage lump.

Australia has one of the most mesothelioma-related deaths in the world, mostly because asbestos was widely used in Australia for a long time in construction manufacturing, mining and manufacturing. A doctor first identified the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which helped drive England to pass laws regulating asbestos lawyer in the 1930s. These regulations forced companies to install ventilation equipment and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Like many types of cancer, mesothelioma caused when cells receive faulty genetic information and multiply without checking. If these cells are found in the lungs (pleura) or abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or in the heart (pericardium), they can cause abnormal growths, referred to as tumors. There is no known cure for mesothelioma. However, there are several risk factors that 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 may cause mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos in the workplace are more likely to developing mesothelioma than people who were not exposed. The type of asbestos the person was exposed to is also a significant factor. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs and a person's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos poses a greater risk of mesothelioma than amphiboles such as crocidolite or amosite.

A person's mesothelioma history in the family can also increase the mesothelioma risks. Mesothelioma is uncommon in younger adults and children, but it can develop in young adults if they were an adult who worked with asbestos. People who live with a mesothelioma-related illness or who is mesothelioma-positive have an increased chance of developing the disease, because they are more likely to breathe asbestos fibers on hair, skin and clothing.

The nature of the work that a person did can also influence the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. People who worked on power plants, ships, or other locations where asbestos was used have more mesothelioma risks than those who were not exposed to asbestos. People who worked in certain industries, like construction and manufacturing, also have a higher mesothelioma rate than other industries.

The gender, age and race can also play a role in his or her mesothelioma experience. Men and those with a family history of mesothelioma are more likely to develop mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries and males are more likely than others to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.