Millions of people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year. Although the majority of cases are diagnosed after someone has died, it is possible for symptoms to be present prior to death. If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos, there are several things you can do to help your doctors in their diagnosis and treatment of this disease. If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos, these things you can do to lower your risk include:
Asbestos exposure comes in many different forms and can occur in many different ways. Some individuals experience just a little asbestos build up in the lining of the lungs while others may experience much more serious symptoms. If an individual has had any asbestos exposure, they are likely to develop the symptoms associated with mesothelioma causes. These symptoms include:
Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine who is at risk for developing mesothelioma causes. Factors that were associated with increased risk include: family history, obesity, age over 50, and being male. Men were found to be more likely to develop this disease than women. Also, if a person has had previous treatments for asbestos, they run the risk of developing a second attack as well. If someone has had cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, they run even greater risks. These factors are also determined by the gender of the individual.
Mesothelioma causes are not only based on the type of asbestos used, but the way in which the asbestos fibers are released into the environment. When these fibers are released, they are thought to be either released directly into the air or directly into the body. If the fibers are released into the air, they can be inhaled by anyone. If the fibers are inhaled, the body will release antibodies to fight off the infection. However, if the body doesn’t produce any antibodies, it’s possible that these antibodies are bad for the person’s health.
People who have a predisposition to getting mesothelioma exposure through their jobs are more at risk than others. It’s been shown that those individuals who work with asbestos have a much higher risk of contracting mesothelioma. However, this does not mean that all individuals who work with asbestos are at risk. A person may work for years without ever having any type of exposure and never develop mesothelioma. Also, those individuals who are older and have already developed symptoms of the disease may not show any signs of exposure.
Some mesothelioma risk factors may be linked to a person’s genetics. For instance, there are several genetic mutations that affect the function of the cell cycle in the cells. These mutations can lead to cancer. The mesothelioma cancer cells replicate rapidly and invade surrounding tissues very quickly. Those who inherit a significant risk factor for mesothelioma are those who have an abnormal gene for cell cycle regulation.
