Mesothelioma Causes Other Than Asbestos
The tissue that lines the lungs and other organs may develop mesothelioma. People who develop this type of cancer are typically exposed to asbestos through their jobs.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that create strong microscopically-sized fibers. It was utilized in automotive and construction products because it resists heat, water and fire.
Occupational Exposure
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral was extensively used for its fireproof properties prior to when it was banned. Redlands asbestos lawsuits is a risk for those who worked with asbestos. The highest risk is for those who have been exposed to large quantities of tiny asbestos fibers over a long time. Mesothelioma usually doesn't show symptoms until decades after asbestos exposure. For this reason, the majority of mesothelioma cases can be traced to occupational asbestos exposure.
Asbestos fibers can be breathed in and swallowed if disturbed. These fibers may be transported to the thin layer of tissue surrounding organs. This layer is called the mesothelium. It can also develop cancerous mesothelioma tumors. Pleural mesothelioma is a tumor that develops around the lungs and is the most frequent mesothelioma type. Other mesothelioma types include mesothelioma peritoneal, which develops in the abdomen, and pericardial mesothelioma, growing around the heart.
It can also occur in other areas of your body when you inhale or ingest asbestos in smaller quantities. It can be found in the lining of the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma) and the lining of the abdominal cavity (pericardial mesothelioma). It's difficult to determine if mesothelioma is the result of occupational exposure or some other cause.
Some patients with mesothelioma acquired the disease after exposure to secondhand sources. Take-home exposure occurs when asbestos is brought home by employees on their clothing or equipment. In these situations families usually clean and wash the clothes of workers, which leads to a higher risk of exposure than could be expected. Certain studies have demonstrated that the use of an asbestos similar to erionite increases the chance of developing mesothelioma among those living near the deposits of erionite.
Other factors that can increase the risk of mesothelioma are certain medical treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments can damage mesothelium, causing mesothelioma but they don't account for a significant number of cases.
Secondhand Exposure
Other factors can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. This includes genetics, history of radiation therapy to the chest, and exposure to secondhand radiation. A family history of the disease can also increase the risk of an individual. However, asbestos remains the most common cause of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is most common in those who work with asbestos. This is especially relevant for those employed in the manufacturing, construction shipbuilding, asbestos mining industries. When they break or disturb asbestos people who work with it often breathe tiny asbestos fibers. The fibers then end up in the lining around the lungs, heart and stomach. The asbestos can remain in the body for a long period of time and cause malignant mesothelioma tumors to develop.
Inhaling or swallowing these harmful fibers could lead to pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and other forms of the disease. The symptoms can take anywhere from 30 to 50 years to show. To diagnose mesothelioma, doctors must first rule out other conditions that may be causing the patient's symptoms.
Exposure to asbestos has been proven to cause pleural mesothelioma the most prevalent form of cancer. It is believed that the risk for mesothelioma that is this type decreases after exposure to asbestos ends. The risk of developing peritoneal cancer is not diminished after the asbestos exposure has ended.
Asbestos is one of naturally occurring metamorphic fibrous minerals. It is extremely robust and resistant to heat and fire making it a preferred choice for industrial, military and commercial applications throughout the 20th century. Asbestos was widely used between the end of World War II and the mid-1970s. It was often found in ships, insulation, buildings and automobile parts.
Mesothelioma is a common occurrence among asbestos workers who handled or inhaled asbestos. However, there are some who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma who have no occupational history of exposure to asbestos. They were exposed to the mineral through other means. For example, many women with husbands who employed asbestos brought home stray asbestos fibers that landed on their clothing and skin. The asbestos contamination of polio vaccination in the 1950s and 1960s has been proven to increase the risk of mesothelioma for those who were vaccinated.
Environmental Exposure
Asbestos is the primary reason for mesothelioma. However, other factors can be involved. These could be related to a person's age, gender or genetics. People who have a predisposition to mesothelioma, or other health issues are at a higher risk than those without.
Most cases of mesothelioma are the result of asbestos exposure in the workplace. The most risk is for workers who have been exposed to asbestos over an extended period of time, such as mine or shipyard workers. However, a lot of people who have mesothelioma did not work directly with asbestos. Second-hand exposure can occur if you live with someone who has worked with asbestos, and breathes asbestos-containing air. This kind of exposure is usually in the spouses of asbestos workers.
Mesothelioma-related symptoms usually develop over time and can vary depending on the type of mesothelioma person has. Everyone should be aware of the dangers they face and speak to their physician if they experience any symptoms that are unusual or alarming.
Asbestos exposure can lead to three kinds of mesothelioma: the pericardial, peritoneal and pleural. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma affects organs in the abdomen, and mesothelioma pericardial is found around the heart. The most frequent mesothelioma is pleural, which usually occurs in the lungs. However, peritoneal mesothelioma could develop in the abdominal cavity and pericardial mesothelioma develops in the lining around the heart.
Researchers have discovered that other substances can cause mesothelioma too. This includes erionite, which is a mineral similar to asbestos and radiation therapy. In addition, a virus known as SV40 and certain kinds of talcum powder can also cause mesothelioma.
The study of the causes of mesothelioma helps doctors make diagnoses faster and precisely. Patients with mesothelioma are able to receive treatment sooner and improve their outcomes. It is also vital to understand other mesothelioma risk factors to help to avoid more mesothelioma cases in the near future. For instance the use of talcum powder may cause more women to develop mesothelioma peritoneal. By educating the public on mesothelioma, we can reduce the number of people diagnosed with the cancer. This is important since mesothelioma can have symptoms that are delayed up to 50 years.
Genetics
If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should consult a doctor. Early treatment is the best chance of survival. While asbestos exposure is the primary mesothelioma cause but research continues to discover other risk factors like talcum powder and SV40. Understanding these dangers and how to avoid them can stop mesothelioma cases from occurring.
Asbestos is a class of fibrous minerals that were utilized extensively throughout the 20th century in various commercial, industrial and military applications. Its durability and fire resistance led to it being a favorite among manufacturers. However, the dangers of asbestos became evident and were documented by researchers, leading to its removal. Mesothelioma is most common in those who have been exposed to asbestos during their work. These people include miners, factory workers asbestos insulation producers and railroad workers, installers and 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 irritations. They eventually develop cancers. The signs of mesothelioma could take a long time to manifest, but they usually become advanced by the time that they appear. Symptoms include difficulty breathing and chest pain, or heaviness, as well as fluid buildup in the lungs.
Mesothelioma is caused by cancerous cell mutations. These are caused by asbestos exposure, but a lot of scientists believe a person's genes are also a major factor. Researchers have discovered a gene referred to as BAP 1 on the short arm of chromosome Three that leads to mesothelioma after investigating mesothelioma-related epidemics in two U.S. families with Swiss origins. Each person in the family who was diagnosed with mesothelioma was affected by this mutation.
Genetics is only one component of the mesothelioma puzzle however it is a crucial one. There is a very small proportion of asbestos-related sufferers develop mesothelioma. This suggests that genes also play a part. Most mesothelioma patients have mutated tumor suppressing genes. As research continues the genes will be examined and understood more completely to prevent more mesothelioma from occurring. It is also likely that those who are genetically predisposed will require greater caution about exposure to asbestos and require regular screening for mesothelioma signs.