Can Exposure to Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma?
The mineral asbestos is poisonous and can cause a variety of diseases. Lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma of the pleural are two of the most frequent cancers caused by asbestos. They affect the linings of the chest cavity, abdomen and the heart. Any type of asbestos exposure may cause these conditions, although they are most prevalent after prolonged and extensive exposure.
The exposure to asbestos happens when the products that contain asbestos are damaged, whether it's during demolition, use of the product or building and home maintenance. You can also get sick if you are exposed indirectly through relatives or friends who have had to work with asbestos.
Asbestos Exposure
A person is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease when tiny fibers are introduced into the body and cause irritation to tissues. The exposure to asbestos can occur when someone works with the material, goes close to it, or inhale its particles. Asbestos-related workers have the highest risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, but even one exposure to this harmful material can cause harm.
Inhalation is the most commonly used form of asbestos exposure. Asbestos inhalation can occur when workers are mining asbestos, creating or installing asbestos-containing products, renovating older structures, or working with other materials that contain the substance. Asbestos fibers can irritate the lining (called pleura) of the chest wall or lungs after a person has inhaled asbestos. This irritation can lead inflammation, scarring, and eventually cancer.
Mesothelioma symptoms usually do not manifest until 20 to 50 years after the time a person becomes exposed to asbestos. The symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, and dry cough. A person may also develop an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, referred to as a the pleural effusion. This symptom is usually harmless but it can be painful and a source of frustration.
Many people are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease because they reported working around or having exposure to asbestos but have not had any symptoms until recently. Because of this lengthy latency some doctors do not believe a single exposure to asbestos is responsible for mesothelioma and other illnesses associated with the mineral.
However it is crucial to remember that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. The more asbestos that is exposed to, the greater the risk of long-term health issues.
The average latency period for pleural mesothelioma is 30 years after a person first encounters asbestos. It is essential to monitor asbestos exposure at work, in the home or in other settings. All asbestos-containing materials must be handled by asbestos abatement professionals. Anyone who is exposed to asbestos should always wear a respirator and adhere to strict safety guidelines when handling the materials. They must also double-bag and label wet rags and PPE in order to stop the spread of asbestos fibers.
Symptoms
Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that was used in many American factories as well as in homes and schools. The toxic material was valued because of its durability, heat resistance and fireproofing. Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious illnesses such as mesothelioma. Often, victims may not be aware of mesothelioma until a long time after exposure. The reason for this is because mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other common illnesses like lung cancer, respiratory issues and other medical conditions.
Mesothelioma symptoms vary according to the type of mesothelioma as well as its location. Breathlessness, coughing, and chest pain are common symptoms of pleural pleural tumors, that affects lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma patients suffer from fluid accumulation in the abdomen, which causes fatigue and pain. Other asbestos-related symptoms include abdominal discomfort and weight loss.
It can take between 10 and 50 years for mesothelioma-related symptoms to show up after exposure to asbestos. This is because asbestos-related disease is slow to develop and does not show any obvious symptoms until it is in a more advanced stage. Many doctors do not recognize mesothelioma or associate it with asbestos exposure because the symptoms are so ambiguous and similar to other health conditions.
Patients should speak with their primary physician regarding any new or persistent symptoms they are experiencing. The patient should inform the doctor about their asbestos history and any health issues they've experienced in the past. This will help the doctor consider mesothelioma as a possibility.
A peritoneal biopsied will be performed on patients who have been diagnosed mesothelioma. They will also undergo blood tests and the CT scan or can mesothelioma cause prostate cancer an MRI to determine the severity of their condition and stage of mesothelioma.
Any person who has been exposed asbestos can develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. This includes construction workers, military veterans, people who lived or worked in asbestos-contaminated buildings and other professions. People who do home renovations or have family members who work in construction might be at risk for asbestos exposure. Some of the victims have even suffered mesothelioma after wearing work clothes to home or school. But, this is a rare occurrence as the majority of patients develop mesothelioma after extreme or prolonged exposure.
Diagnosis
One-time exposure to asbestos does not generally result in mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms can only be seen after repeated exposure to asbestos particles. However an exposure to asbestos could lead to asbestosis or another illness related to asbestos if the event was extreme enough to cause asbestos to settle within the tissues of the body. For instance, many people exposed to asbestos in New York City after the 9/11 attacks could have inhaled enough toxic material to suffer later health issues.
Asbestosis, along with other asbestos-related diseases, take several decades to develop. The result is that victims may not remember the exposure or the health issues. In addition, the symptoms associated with asbestos mimic the symptoms of more common diseases. This can make mesothelioma difficult to detect. A misdiagnosis can have grave or death-like consequences for mesothelioma sufferers.
If anyone suspects that they may have mesothelioma, they should see their doctor as soon as they can. The doctor can conduct a physical exam and record their medical history to determine the possibility. The doctor may also perform tests to look for signs of disease, such the chest CT scan or an X-ray. These tests can show whether the lung's lining (pleura) has thickened due to calcium deposits or if fluid is accumulating between the lungs and chest wall, known as an effusion of the pleura.
Other tests could be required based on the site of mesothelioma. A doctor may need to conduct a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis. During the procedure the doctor will insert a needle into the body of the patient in order to remove the tissue to examine. Or, the doctor could perform surgery to collect an in-situ sample of mesothelioma. They'll use an instrument with a video camera inside to see the area they are operating on, and they can pass specific tools into the body of the patient via the tube to take a tissue sample.
Mesothelioma is an uncommon condition, so it is important to seek medical attention as quickly as you can when you suspect you may have the illness. They should inform their doctor about any possible exposure to asbestos in order to keep it in the patient's medical history and keep an eye out for any future signs or symptoms of mesothelioma.
Treatment
Asbestos is a class of naturally occurring minerals that are typically found in nature. The use of asbestos was used in the past to build products, as well as for various industrial purposes, such as insulation and fire resistance. As time has passed asbestos has come to be known as a hazard because of its ability to cause cancer and other illnesses when inhaled by people. People who work with or around asbestos are more at risk of developing serious health problems than those who do not. But the good news is that it takes an extended time for these symptoms to show up. The first symptoms of asbestos exposure usually aren't evident until 10-40 years following the initial exposure.
When asbestos is disturbed the fibers that compose the material float in the air and can be easily breathed in. The body's natural defenses eliminate the majority of the fibers. However, they can sometimes get past the defenses and enter the lungs. This can lead to lung diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and Pleural effusions.
The rates of these illnesses increase in proportion to the number of years a person been exposed to asbestos. The exact latency period of mesothelioma has not been determined since many studies haven't followed patients for that long. Mesothelioma can develop in the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the lining of the heart (peritoneal mesothelioma) or any other location where mesothelium forms.
The outlook for mesothelioma that is malignant is bleak. It is usually fatal if it is not treated and detected in the early stages. It is difficult to determine and symptoms can be mistaken for other ailments.
If you have been exposed asbestos, it is important to consult a doctor immediately when you notice any signs. If they are diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition and are concerned about talking about their legal options with a New York mesothelioma attorney to learn about what compensation might be available. This could cover medical bills and other expenses associated with the illness.