How Do You Explain Mesothelioma From Asbestos To A Five-Year-Old
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
Anyone who uses products containing asbestos are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers penetrate the chest cavity's lining or abdomen, also known as the peritoneum and pleura.
Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant pleural mysothelioma or peritoneal cancer throughout your life. Although the risk appears to decrease after 40 years of exposure, even the smallest exposure to asbestos is risky.
Age
The older the person is exposed to the environment, the higher the chance of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue surrounding important organs in the body. The cancerous cells are malignant, meaning they expand beyond control and cause tumors. Mesothelioma typically affects those who have been exposed to asbestos. This could be through their work or as a close family member.
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, as it irritates mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma is most commonly found in the lungs' linings but it can also affect the linings of the abdomen, peritoneum and the lining of the heart.
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is durable and heat-resistant. It was utilized in insulation, construction and other industrial applications up to the 1980s. During this period many millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos due to their work or being close to an exposed loved one.
When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers in the air. They can be breathed in, and they are too tough for the body to break down or process. The fibers can become stuck in the lungs and cause irritation that can lead to cancer.
Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not appear for decades after asbestos exposure. The symptoms are similar to those of other cancers and can be fatal if not treated.
Men are more likely to be affected by mesothelioma more than women. It is also more often diagnosed among those over 45. The people who are at highest risk of developing mesothelioma because of workplace asbestos exposure include miners, ship builders railroad workers, and others who handled or installed products made with asbestos. The asbestos in the clothing of these workers can put their family members at risk.
Smoking
The chances of a person developing mesothelioma rises the longer they're exposed to asbestos. This is due to the long latency period which can last between 20 and 60 year from the time of exposure until diagnosis. Depending on the kind of asbestos, an individual's mesothelioma may occur in different areas of the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a condition that affects the lining between the lung cavity and chest wall (the pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma can be found in the lining of the abdomen also known as the peritoneum.
Most often, those who have been exposed to radiation develop mesothelioma that affects the chest or lung. People who worked in the power generation, shipbuilding and construction industries are most at risk. Mesothelioma is also a possibility for those who were exposed at home or in school to asbestos. Children and spouses of asbestos-exposed workers can bring fibers from the workplace to their homes on their clothes hair, skin and hair. This puts them at risk.
Mesothelioma sufferers are usually white and over the age of 65. They are also more likely to hold a blue-collar position or a military background. The United States Navy and other branches of the military used asbestos extensively due to its properties to resist flames, and millions of veterans could have been exposed to asbestos.
When DNA mutations occur, they could cause cells to grow uncontrolled. This causes the development of tumors, which eventually turn into mesothelioma. The disease can be affecting any part of the body, however most often it occurs in the chest or abdomen.
Smoking does not cause mesothelioma. However it can increase the risk of this cancer by increasing the amount of asbestos people breathe in. Anyone who has been exposed asbestos should quit smoking cigarettes.
Furthermore, a person's mesothelioma treatment program should include a doctor who understands asbestos exposure and the risk factors for this type of cancer. A mesothelioma specialist who is experienced with them can help them determine the best method to treat this rare cancer. The doctor can determine if the patient is eligible for immunotherapy or other experimental treatments.
Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is used in a variety of products including flooring, roofing and insulation. Workers who handle, make or work with asbestos-containing materials are at risk of exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can cause cancer and illness.
There is a long time of latency between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms, which makes it difficult to recognize many asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma one of the most hazardous of asbestos-related diseases, is no exception. Mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 20 and 60 year after exposure to asbestos.
Exposure to occupational hazards is the most commonly used method by which people are exposed. All jobs that require asbestos handling or use, including those in manufacturing, construction, automotive mechanics, and electrical. However, people can also be exposed to asbestos through home activities, like smoking or renovation of older houses that contain asbestos.
Most mesothelioma cases result by asbestos inhalation. Asbestos particles that are inhaled can enter the lungs and cause irritation to the lining called the pleura. This irritation can cause thickened pleura patches (pleural plates) and fibrosis within the lungs. As the disease progresses it may cause to the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity and eventually lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues of other organs, such as the abdomen and the heart.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent in people who have been exposed to asbestos working. People who have a family history of mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related illnesses are also at risk. The risk of exposure to asbestos is increased if a person has had more than one job in the course of their life. Smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, but it can make the condition worse for those who have been diagnosed. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and experience mesothelioma quitting smoking may make you healthier and improve the treatment outcome. It is important to tell your doctor about your exposure to asbestos and any new signs, such as shortness of breath or abdominal pain, because they can treat the condition with medication or surgery.
Pasadena asbestos lawyer have a genetic connection which means that a person's genes can increase their chances of developing a particular disease. However, mesothelioma does not have an element of genetics. In fact, exposure to asbestos is the main reason.
Asbestos fibers enter the body through inhalation or swallowed, and then clinging to the lining of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or around the heart (the pericardium). Over time these fibers that are loose can damage or mutate the cells that comprise these linings. This can result in the development of mesothelioma.
However, mesothelioma may not affect all people who are exposed. Researchers believe that other factors can influence whether someone develops mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. This includes gender, age, and family history of mesothelioma and other illnesses, as and any other risk factors such smoking.
Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that more men than women were exposed directly to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed between 20 and 60 year after the first exposure to asbestos.
A defective gene is a further risk factor for mesothelioma. In a study that looked at two families with high levels of mesothelioma, scientists found that nearly every member of the family was affected by a defective gene on the short arm of the chromosome 3. This gene, dubbed BAP 1 regulates the movement of calcium within cells. With a faulty gene this process is broken and calcium levels decrease. This allows asbestos to mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones and trigger mesothelioma.
A mutated gene can also increase the chance of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. This mutated gene causes the loss of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting cancerous cells.
The kind of asbestos to which an individual was exposed and their occupation can also increase the risk of mesothelioma. In addition the polio vaccine administered to children in the 1940s and 1950s may increase a person's mesothelioma risk because it exposed them to the cancer-causing SV40 virus.