20 Myths About Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma: Debunked

Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is usually diagnosed between 20 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are usually mild and can be difficult to identify.

Asbestos is a mineral that is natural that was used in thousands of commercial, industrial and household products. It releases fibers into air when disturbed, and can be harmful when inhaled.

Workplace Exposure

Many mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos while at work. As high as 80% of cases are caused by past exposure to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of organs such as the abdomen and lungs. It is a rare form of cancer. People who worked at sites which used asbestos in construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing and other industries have been most affected. However, mesothelioma can also be found in people who were living with people who were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis.

Asbestos, a mineral that is naturally occurring is extremely hard and resistant to extreme temperatures. Before the dangers of asbestos were realized asbestos was extensively employed in shipbuilding, construction and other industrial jobs. It was utilized in homes and other residential structures due to its fire resistance properties.

When asbestos is disturbed or handled, it releases tiny fibers into the air. They can be inhaled or swallowed. The resultant irritation to the stomach or lungs causes mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure can take years to cause mesothelioma. The majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by work with asbestos in manufacturing, shipbuilding, mining and other industrial jobs. Veterans and those who lived with someone who was exposed to asbestos are at risk.

on a regular basis are at risk for developing mesothelioma. Additionally having a family history of mesothelioma and/or other asbestos-related cancers may increase an individual's risk.

The most frequent types of mesothelioma include pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Inhaling asbestos fibers can be absorbed into the lung's protective lining. The mesothelium consists of cells that react to asbestos and turn into cancerous tumors.

Researchers have found that the incidences of pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal asbestosis increase proportionally over time. However the rate of latency seems to decrease approximately 45 years after exposure for females and males. The type of asbestos can influence the latency of Mesothelioma. Crocidolite is one example. It is believed to cause more pleural than peritoneal mesothelioma asbestos claim. Amosite is associated with a higher incidence of pleural msothelioma in comparison to chrysotile or mixed fibres.

Secondary Exposure

Asbestos is present in a variety of household products. When people who work with asbestos bring it home, their family members could be exposed unknowingly to these toxic fibers. This is known as secondary exposure. In some instances, family members could have directly contacted asbestos workers and breathed them in.

Mesothelioma patients are typically women whose husbands or fathers were employed in asbestos-related industries. These women could have brought home the fibers on their skin and clothing or through the contaminated clothing they wore to work. The children may wear these clothes while playing and were further exposed.

The asbestos fibers that accumulate on clothing or skin can also be absorbed into homes, creating a danger to anyone who is present. Studies have shown that fibers can remain inside homes for as long as 20 years. This poses a danger to the people who live in the homes. Mesothelioma victims have reported that they were frequently sneezing and coughing when in their home, and asbestos dust accumulated on furniture and other surfaces.

Many people who have been exposed to asbestos in a para-occupational setting do not develop symptoms of mesothelioma till they are severely affected. The symptoms are often mistaken for other ailments like COPD or lung cancer or asthma. The signs of mesothelioma may be misinterpreted as the bowel and ovarian cancers and heart problems.

Mesothelioma patients typically say that their doctor was unaware of their potential exposure to asbestos, as these types of mesothelioma do not appear on routine lab tests. The doctor of a patient must be thorough when reviewing the medical history of a patient to determine if mesothelioma has been caused by secondary exposure or occupational exposure.

Studies that focus on a specific community or region with a specific industrial source of exposure to asbestos have proved more accurate in assessing mesothelioma risks than those which focus on a specific worker who was exposed. A study conducted in Casale Monferrato (northwest Italy) showed that people living within 2000m from an asbestos cement manufacturing facility were at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma than people who weren't.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is found in the tissue that forms the exterior of many internal organs. It can affect the lung's lining as well as the chest cavity (pleura), the membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the membranes surrounding other organs within the body. The disease begins in cells called mesothelial cells. Like other cancers, mesothelioma cells get out of control and grow into tumors.

It takes a long while before symptoms begin to show after exposure to asbestos and asbestos exposure mesothelioma it can take even longer to identify. The initial symptoms may be insignificant and difficult to identify. Mesothelioma is primarily respiratory illness, however it can also affect the heart, stomach and larynx.

The asbestos fibers responsible claiming for asbestos related illness mesothelioma usually get located in the lungs. The fibers are absorbed into the bloodstream of the lungs which can cause damage to the cells that line the lungs. This can result in many symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain. The symptoms of advanced mesothelioma may be more severe. They include the accumulation of fluid in the chest (pleural effusion) as well as fatigue, weight gain, fever, and anemia.

A person who has come exposed to asbestos should see a doctor immediately for a complete physical examination, lab tests, and a chest radiograph. The doctor will want to know about the individual's working history and any family history of asbestos-related ailments.

If a patient is suffering from early mesothelioma symptoms The doctor should think about taking a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor should use a method that minimizes the chance of suffering pain and discomfort. In many instances, the biopsy can be performed by a specialist as an outpatient procedure. The tissue sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing.

If the results of the test come back as positive for mesothelioma or other cancers, further tests will be needed to determine the severity of the disease and plan treatment. Patients may undergo surgical or nonsurgical treatment depending on the stage of cancer. A lung transplant can aid some people breathe easier, and chemotherapy has helped some patients live longer.

Diagnosis

If you experience chest pain or breathlessness, or other signs of mesothelioma triggered by asbestos exposure, seek medical advice as soon as you can. They must inform their doctor of any asbestos exposure they might have experienced in the past.

It is believed that asbestos fibres penetrate into the lining of the lung (pleura) and cause mutations to the genes of lung cells, which leads to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can also affect heart's lining (peritoneal mesothelioma) and the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can take many decades to develop, meaning that people suffering from asbestos exposure may not be aware of mesothelioma until it is very ill.

Many patients find it difficult to identify mesothelioma as the symptoms are often gradual and can be mistaken for other conditions like pneumonia or influenza. It can be difficult for doctors and patients to determine if a patient's mesothelioma was caused by exposure to work.

Imaging tests can be used to detect mesothelioma by finding lung tumours and other parts of the body. X-rays computed tomography scans (CT) and other imaging tests are often used as the first tests. They can reveal tumors or lumps and help doctors determine if there are other ailments.

If the tests aren't conclusive, a biopsy could be performed to determine whether cancerous tissue is present. This is usually carried out using a tube that is introduced into the lung via a small incision in the chest (thoracotomy). The doctor can then take a sample of tissue and send it for testing to determine if mesothelioma is present or other cancers.

A blood test referred to as mesothelioma's cellular marker could help to identify cancerous cells. The blood marker isn't always precise and asbestos exposure mesothelioma does not always detect mesothelioma.

If a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed, the treatment can begin. This can include chemotherapy and surgery however, patients with mesothelioma should discuss treatment options with their physician. Asbestos sufferers should speak with a U.S. veterans' compensation specialist to file a claim for asbestos for VA benefits now. Click here for a no-cost VA claims packet.