Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
The main mesothelioma risk is asbestos exposure in the workplace. Construction workers and veterans from all branches of service are at the highest risk.
Families of asbestos workers are also at risk. Mesothelioma may take 30 to 60 years to develop following exposure. Most cases are found in the pleura that surrounds the lungs, whereas other forms of the disease can be found in the peritoneum.
Exposure to Work
The vast majority of people diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos as a result of occupational exposure. The mineral was widely used in shipbuilding, construction, asbestos cement manufacturing and other industries. According to the Mayo Clinic workers in these industries are more at chance of developing mesothelioma as the fibers are able to be inhaled and absorbed into the body.
It can take up to 50 years for symptoms to appear in patients after exposure. This lengthy time of latency makes mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. However, people with mesothelioma-related history should inform their physician and have regular screenings.
People who have been exposed to asbestos while at work are more at risk than those that have not. This includes those who worked in power plants, construction, steel and other manufacturing firms, as well as military veterans who were exposed to asbestos while on duty. Firefighters, who are exposed when fighting fires in older homes or structures that were built using asbestos-based materials are also at a high risk of developing mesothelioma. The Cleveland Clinic reports that firefighters are twice as likely to develop mesothelioma as the general population due to their continuous exposure to asbestos.
Studies have revealed that mesothelioma risk is determined by the nature of the industry and the length of asbestos exposure. The most common mesothelioma forms are peritoneal, pericardial and pleural. The most commonly used form of mesothelioma is the pleural form, which affects the lining of the lung. This can cause breathing difficulties and fluid on the lung (pleural effusion), or a hole in your chest wall.
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma of the chest cavity, the abdomen and testicles. Men are more prone to developing mesothelioma. This is because the majority of those diagnosed with mesothelioma, are men and men are generally exposed to more job-related asbestos exposure than women. Men in the military are also at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma due to the fact that many branches of the military used asbestos on bases as well as in vehicles, aircrafts, ships and equipment.
Secondary Exposure
If someone comes into contact with asbestos, it may irritate the lining of their organs. If the irritation continues, it can lead to mesothelioma, which is a type of cancer. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs, but it can also occur in the abdomen or chest cavity. It is a cancerous condition that occurs when a cell's DNA is changed. This can cause the cells to grow in uncontrollable amounts.
If you suffer from mesothelioma or have been exposed to asbestos, you must seek compensation from that company. A mesothelioma lawyer or law firm with experience with asbestos cases is the best method to accomplish this. Folsom asbestos lawyer and lawyers have access to resources that can assist them in analyzing exposure histories and identify potential liable persons.
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally that was utilized in construction and manufacturing up to the 1980s. Due to its fire-proof properties, it was used for insulation in various buildings and structures including ships, factories and schools, power stations and homes, among others. Asbestos posed a risk for those working in these types of structures. For instance workers could breathe in asbestos-containing airborne fibers while they were working or showering at work. The fibers can be inhaled by workers when they return home from work, because their clothes or equipment may have been contaminated with asbestos dust.
Additionally, workers who worked on sites undergoing demolition or renovation could be exposed to asbestos through secondary exposure. When workers remove or break up asbestos from older structures asbestos fibers, they become airborne and may contaminate surrounding areas. This is the reason mesothelioma patients who didn't directly work with asbestos are still at an increased risk of developing the disease.
Second-hand exposure also exposes people who live close to asbestos workers to carcinogen. This is called asbestos exposure in non-work settings or a non-work environment. It can occur when asbestos workers bring harmful fibers home in their clothing and expose their family members to the carcinogen. This type of exposure is the most common mesothelioma causing cancer in women.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma usually appear years after asbestos exposure. This means that the disease may not be diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage, and the symptoms are often misinterpreted as other conditions. GPs and hospital experts will investigate the symptoms to rule out other conditions before diagnosing mesothelioma. However it is essential to visit your doctor when any of the symptoms are present. Early diagnosis can improve life expectancy.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lining of certain organs, mainly the lung (pleural mesothelioma) or the tummy (peritoneal mesothelioma). Other forms of mesothelioma may be found in the linings of the heart and testicles. Mesothelioma may cause a variety of symptoms, based on the location of the tumor as well as the kind of mesothelioma.
The symptoms may vary and be intermittent and fluctuate over the course of time, so it's essential to inform your GP about any persistent or troubling symptoms even if they're not specific to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma may present symptoms that are similar to other ailments and may be difficult to identify. This is why it's important to let your GP be aware of any asbestos exposure you've experienced in the past.
Asbestos is one of the minerals that are made up of microscopic fibres. These fibres can cause damage to the lung over time if they are inhaled, swallowed or consumed. People who are exposed to asbestos while at work have a higher risk of developing the disease. Other risk factors for mesothelioma are having a family history of the disease, and previous exposure to radiation treatment for another cancer.
Asbest fibres, when inhaled, can trigger mutations in genes and cancerous cell growth. This can result in symptoms like difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain. Other symptoms of pleural mysothelioma may include the accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion) stomach ache as well as abdominal pain, bowel irritation and weight loss. In peritoneal cancer, the symptoms are more severe. They can include an impression that you've plenty of food in your stomach, bloating and diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a lump in the stomach.
Diagnosis
Asbestos is made up of minerals that form long, thin but strong fibers. The asbestos fibers can be inhaled into the lungs, leading to cancer. Asbestos was mined and used in consumer products construction materials, automobile components in the 20th century, before scientists realized the dangers to human health. It's not mined anymore, but older homes and buildings contain it.
In the beginning, the symptoms of mesothelioma are difficult to diagnose because they are similar to those of other illnesses. The symptoms of mesothelioma may also vary according to whether it's an unintentional or malignant disease, the organs or tissues affected, as well as the stage.
The first mesothelioma-related symptoms are often coughing and trouble breathing. The asbestos mesothelioma latency period can take several years to develop. The length of the latency period can differ between patients, based on the amount of asbestos they were exposed to and how long they were exposed to asbestos for.
In addition to lung problems mesothelioma may also affect the lining of the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart and testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). These symptoms, while less common than pleural tumors however, can be just as damaging. Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer. In spite of advances in treatment some patients die within the first year of diagnosis.
A doctor will look over the medical history of a patient to determine any risk factors. This includes an examination of their employment history, particularly if they were exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also look for mesothelioma-related signs such as fluid accumulation in the lungs and abdominal cavity.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos may be able to take steps to stop the development mesothelioma. They must adhere to workplace safety regulations and inform their employer of any asbestos-related risks they may face. They should also eliminate any work-related clothing or equipment from their residence that could contain asbestos. Hire a reputable mesothelioma abatement company to remove any asbestos from their home, and avoid the use of cosmetics and talcum powder that could have been infected with asbestos.