Mesothelioma - What Causes Mesothelioma?
Like all cancers, mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms may resemble other diseases. However the early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve a patient's prognosis.
Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is made up of a group of minerals that can be separated into long, thin fibres. Asbestos fibers may become stuck inside certain organs when breathed in or consumed.
Exposure to Asbestos
The exposure to asbestos is the main confirmed cause of Mesothelioma. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is composed of strong and microscopic fibers. It was extensively used in automobiles, buildings and a myriad of other construction products between the 1930s and the beginning of the 1980s because it was resistant to water, fire and sound. The producers of asbestos-based materials were aware that it was harmful to health, but did not inform the public.
pleural mesothelioma causes was for those who directly handled asbestos-related products. Mining, asbestos removal, shipbuilding and other industrial jobs exposed workers amounts of asbestos. Asbestos-containing materials, such as shingles, pipes and glues as well as talcum powder, were used at home by those who were also exposed. Chrysotile asbestos is the most common kind of asbestos that is used in the United States. However, other types of asbestos, like amosite and crocidolite have been linked to mesothelioma.
Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not appear for decades after exposure to asbestos. Once symptoms appear, the disease can quickly progress and be fatal. Symptoms most often affect the lung (pleural mesothelioma) but they can also affect the stomach's lining, heart or testicles.
Asbestos fibers that are inhaled or ingested stick to the cells that line the internal organs and tissues. This causes genetic mutations that result in cancer. The cells that are affected multiply uncontrollably, forming tumors.
People who work in industries that have a high exposure to asbestos have a greater risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who do not. Those at greatest risk are men who had blue-collar jobs, or who served in the military. But mesothelioma is a possibility in women who were exposed to asbestos, in particular if they took care of family members exposed to asbestos at work.
Secondary exposure can occur when someone who is at risk for mesothelioma brings asbestos fibres home on their clothing and clothing. This has happened to spouses of asbestos-exposed individuals, as well as some tile and hairdressers. Certain studies have shown that a mineral like asbestos called erionite increases the risk of mesothelioma, but this has not been proven elsewhere.
Exposure to Minerals
Mesothelioma develops from the transformation of cells that line particular areas of the body, like the chest lining (pleura) and abdominal cavities. Mesothelioma may also develop in the linings of the heart (pericardium), or testicles. The disease is typically associated with exposure to asbestos, but there are other sources.
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is made up of microscopic and strong fibers. It was used in building materials, automobile brakes and many other products from the 1930s until the 1980s, due to its resistance to water, fire, and sound. Many people who worked in construction or the military were exposed to asbestos. Workers who remove and handle asbestos are at a greater risk of breathing in harmful particles.
The risk of mesothelioma is different based on the position however any exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing the disease. Mesothelioma is associated with many different jobs, but it more commonly affects miners, millers and shipyard workers and asbestos manufacturers. It has been identified in workers in the production line of automobiles and aircrafts as well as those that sand or handle insulation.
The development of mesothelioma is usually slow, but it can take 20 to 60 years for symptoms to appear after asbestos exposure. It is crucial for everyone to speak to a physician about mesothelioma even if they haven't worked with asbestos in the past. The earlier the cancer is discovered, the easier it will be to treat.
In the past, many who were diagnosed with mesothelioma didn't be diagnosed until their condition was progressing. Since mesothelioma cancer is extremely rare doctors often ignore symptoms such as persistent coughing and difficulty breathing.
Asbestos was eliminated in the 1980s. However, those who served in the military or worked in industrial positions prior to that remain at a higher risk for mesothelioma. Researchers have recently discovered new types of exposure to mineral that increase the risk of mesothelioma. For instance, a substance called erionite can be found in the soil of certain regions of Turkey and is used to make materials there. In studies of the local population exposed to erionite extensively, men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. In Italy the same phenomenon has been observed with respect to a different mineral called fluoroedenite.
Genetics
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects mesothelium. It is most commonly found in the lining of the chest cavity (pleura) however it also can affect tissue around the abdomen, heart and testicles.
Doctors have linked mesothelioma tumor to a mutation in a gene known as BAP1. This gene regulates a process that creates calcium inside cells. And when it's mutated the person is more likely to develop cancerous cells. Scientists have found that BAP1 mutations are present in 70 percent of people who have mesothelioma. This discovery has made mesothelioma easier to detect and has increased screening, particularly for people with a family history.
In addition to BAP1 Researchers have discovered various other genetic mutations that may lead to mesothelioma. These mutations have made it easier for mesothelioma specialists to better know the disease and to treat it more effectively.
While genetics can play a role in mesothelioma, asbestos remains the leading risk factor for the cancer. Some people exposed to asbestos never get cancer, while others who are not genetically predisposed develop mesothelioma after an extended period of time in exposure. Secondary exposure or paraoccupational asbestos exposure can be a result of coworkers who have been exposed to asbestos carry fibers home on their clothing and skin.
In some instances, mesothelioma is found to run in families due to a mixture of asbestos and genetics. However, the majority of mesothelioma patients appear to be random and do not seem to have any family history of the disease.
Asbestos-related mesothelioma is a severe and complex disease, however research continues to make remarkable progress in treatment and recovery options for patients. Asbestos is now banned in numerous countries around the world and scientists are constantly improving mesothelioma treatment options by using better drugs, more specific surgeries, and more efficient diagnostic tests. To find out more about these latest advances, request a free copy of the Mesothelioma Guide. This comprehensive resource contains a complete listing of mesothelioma treatment options, including the most recent clinical trials and promising options. Download the guide by filling out our online form, or by calling directly.
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Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the cells that line certain areas of the human body, including the abdomen and lungs. The lining of your chest cavity (the Pleura) is where most cases of mesothelioma begin. However, it could begin in the lining of the abdomen and the heart (the Pericardium).
While asbestos exposure is the primary mesothelioma risk factor, other factors, such as a person's age or gender, may increase the chance of developing the disease. Certain of these factors like smoking, or a person's gender, can be changed, while others, like age or family history, aren't.
Most mesothelioma patients have an ancestral history of the disease, and a lot of them have were exposed to asbestos for a long time in their jobs. People diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma typically older than 45, and the majority of patients suffering from mesothelioma of the peritoneal region are older than 65. This is due to the fact that mesothelioma takes years to develop, and symptoms can begin to show up in an older person.
There are several tests doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma, including a CT scan (computerised tomography), FDG-positron emission tomography (a test that utilizes the use of a radioactive substance to look at the extent of the tumor's growth) and biopsy. A biopsy involves the removal of some of the tissue for examination under a microscope, and can be done by using VATS (Video-assisted surgery using thoracoscopic instruments) it is a type of keyhole procedure or a needle guided by a CT scan.
Doctors can examine blood samples for a genetic variant called BAP1. This is an error in the gene that inhibits tumour growth and makes a person more susceptible to developing cancers caused by environmental toxins. People with this mutation are more likely to develop mesothelioma even after a relatively low amount of asbestos exposure, and they have a shorter latency period than those who do not have the genetic mutation. Researchers do not know yet how common this mutation in the general public is or if it can be prevented through lifestyle choices like avoiding harmful substances. This is a field of research that is currently in progress.