Mesothelioma Causes Other Than Asbestos
The tissue that lines the lungs as well as other organs can develop mesothelioma. Patients who develop this cancer are typically exposed to asbestos as a result of their work.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that create strong microscopic fibers. It was used in automotive and construction products because it is resistant to heat, fire and water.
Exposure to Work
Asbestos is a natural mineral that was extensively used for its fireproof properties prior to when it was banned in the 1970s. Mesothelioma is a risk for those who worked with asbestos. The highest risk is for those who have been exposed to large quantities of asbestos' microscopic fibers over a prolonged period of time. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't show until years after exposure to asbestos. This is why the majority of mesothelioma cases are attributed to occupational asbestos exposure.
If asbestos is disturbed, its tiny fibers can become airborne and can be breathed in or swallowed. The fibers could make their way to the thin layer of tissue surrounding organs. This layer is known as the mesothelium, and it is prone to developing mesothelioma-related cancerous tumors. Pleural mesothelioma is a tumor that develops around the lung and is the most prevalent form of mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma include mesothelioma that develops in the abdomen, and pericardial mesothelioma, growing around the heart.
It could also occur in other areas of your body, if you inhale or ingest asbestos in smaller amounts. It can be found in the testicles' lining (peritoneal mesothelioma) and the abdominal cavity's lining (pericardial mesothelioma). Mesothelioma usually occurs as a result of an injury to the mesothelium, so it's hard to determine if it was caused by occupational exposure or a different cause.
Boulder asbestos lawsuits have contracted the disease via contact with another person. This is often called take-home exposure, and happens when asbestos is found on clothing worn by workers or other equipment. In these instances workers' clothes are typically cleaned and washed by families, which results in a higher risk of exposure than was expected. Certain studies have revealed that the use of a similar asbestos known as erionite increases the risk of mesothelioma developing in those living near erionite deposits.
Other factors that can increase the risk of mesothelioma include certain medical treatments, like radiation and chemotherapy. These treatments can cause damage to mesothelium, causing mesothelioma, but they don't account for a large proportion of cases.
Secondhand Exposure
Other factors can increase the mesothelioma risk. Genetics, radiation therapy history to the chest, and exposure to secondhand radiation are all factors that could increase a person's risk of developing mesothelioma. A mesothelioma-related family history can also increase the risk for the disease. However, asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma.
People who work directly with asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma. This is particularly true for those who work in manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, asbestos mining, and other related industries. When they break or disturb asbestos those who work with it typically inhale tiny asbestos fibers. These fibers can settle in the lining of the stomach, lungs and the heart. The asbestos fibers can remain in the body and cause malignant mesothelioma cancers.
Inhaling or swallowing these harmful fibers can cause mesothelioma of the pleura, peritoneal mes and other types of the disease. The symptoms can take between 30 to 50 years before they appear. To determine mesothelioma, a doctor must first rule out any other medical conditions that could be causing symptoms.
Pleural mesothelioma, also known as pleural meso frequent form of cancer. It is believed that the risk of mesothelioma in this form decreases after exposure to asbestos has ended. The risk of peritoneal cancer continues to increase even after asbestos exposure has ended.
Asbestos is one of six naturally occurring fibrous metamorphic minerals. It is impervious to heat and fire, and highly robust, which made it a popular choice for commercial, industrial and military applications throughout the 20th century. Asbestos was extensively used between the end of World War II and the mid-1970s. It was frequently used in ships, insulation and buildings, as well as automobile components.
Workers who handled asbestos, or inhale it, were the primary group that developed mesothelioma. However, there are some who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma who have no previous occupational exposure to asbestos. They were exposed by other means. For instance, a lot of wives of husbands who worked with asbestos brought home asbestos fibers that landed on their clothing and skin. Those who were vaccinated against polio in the 1950s and 1960s have been shown to be at a higher risk for mesothelioma as well because of the contamination of the polio vaccine asbestos.
Environmental Exposure
Asbestos is the primary reason for mesothelioma. However, other factors can also be involved. These could be related to a person's age, gender or genetics. People who have a predisposition to mesothelioma, or other health problems are at higher risk than people who don't have.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace accounts for most mesothelioma cases. The most risk is for people who have been exposed to asbestos for many years like shipyard or mine workers. However, many of those with mesothelioma didn't directly work with asbestos. Second-hand exposure can occur if someone lives with someone who worked with asbestos and breathes in asbestos fibers. This type of exposure is the most frequent for spouses of workers who worked with asbestos.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be seen over time, and they can vary depending on what kind of mesothelioma a person has. Everyone should be aware of the dangers they are exposed to and speak with their doctor if any symptoms are unusual or alarming.
Asbestos exposure can cause three types mesothelioma - abdominal, pleural and pericardial. Pleural mesothelioma is a lung cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma can affect organs in the abdomen, and pericardial mesothelioma occurs around the heart. The majority of mesothelioma occurs in the lungs. However, peritoneal and pericardial cancers can also develop in the abdominal cavity.
Researchers have discovered that other substances can cause mesothelioma too. Radiation therapy and erionite (a mineral that appears similar to asbestos) are among the compounds that can cause mesothelioma. In addition, a virus known as SV40 and certain varieties of talcum powder could cause mesothelioma.
Research into causes of mesothelioma can help doctors make diagnoses faster and accurately. Patients with mesothelioma are able to get treatment earlier and improve their results. Knowing the other mesothelioma risk factors is important to help prevent mesothelioma from occurring in the future. The use of talcum may result in more women developing peritoneal cancer. By educating the public on mesothelioma, we can decrease the number of patients diagnosed with the cancer. This is important because mesothelioma can have symptoms that can be delayed for up to 50 years.
Genetics
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you must consult a doctor. Early treatment can give patients the best prognosis. While asbestos exposure is the most common mesothelioma cause, research continues to discover other risk factors like talcum powder and SV40. Understanding and avoiding these risks can help reduce the incidence mesothelioma.
Asbestos is an asbestos group of mineral fibers fibrous which was extensively used throughout the 20th century in industrial, commercial and even military applications. Its strength and fire-resistant characteristics has made it a popular choice for manufacturers. However asbestos's dangers became apparent and were well-documented by researchers, leading to its phase out. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace are at risk for mesothelioma. This includes miners factory workers, asbestos insulation manufacturers and railroad workers, installers, auto manufacturers, ship builders and those who handled or wore clothing which was contaminated by asbestos.
The asbestos fibers that are inhaled get buried in the lining (pleura) of the lung, where they become irritated. They eventually develop tumors. The signs typically take a long time to appear but by the time they show mesothelioma is already in advanced. Symptoms include difficulty breathing and chest pain or heaviness, as well as fluid buildup in the lung.
Mesothelioma results from cancerous cell mutations. Researchers believe that exposure to asbestos is a major cause, but they also believe that genes play a role. Researchers have discovered a gene referred to as BAP 1 on the short arm of chromosome three that causes mesothelioma after studying mesothelioma outbreaks in two U.S. families with Swiss origins. Each person in the family that developed mesothelioma was affected by this mutation.
Genetics is only one aspect of the equation for mesothelioma, but it's an important one. A small percentage of asbestos-related patients develop mesothelioma. This suggests that genes play a part. The majority of mesothelioma patients are carriers of mutations in tumor suppressing genes. As the research continues the genes will be examined and understood more thoroughly to stop more mesothelioma cases from occurring. It is likely that people who are predisposed genetically to mesothelioma will also need to be more vigilant about exposure to asbestos, and will require regular screening to detect symptoms.