Asbestos exposure is well-known as a cause of mesothelioma cancer.
Asbestos exposure has been proven to be the primary cause of mesothelioma cancer through medical reports and extensive research over the years.
If you work in a construction company, factory, or manufacturing industry that produces asbestos-contaminated products, or if you live in an old building built with asbestos-containing materials, you may be exposed to mesothelioma. Asbestos fiber can be swallowed or inhaled. When asbestos fiber is inhaled, it becomes trapped in the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen, affecting the organ and causing cancerous cell growth or development.
Here are the quick facts to note down about the causes of mesothelioma cancer
- The clearly defined cause of mesothelioma is Asbestos exposure.
- Mesothelioma can take up to 1 to 5 decades to develop.
- People who work in an asbestos manufacturing company and those who live in an old building are at a higher risk of getting asbestos-causing mesothelioma.
What is the cause of Mesothelioma?
Asbestos exposure is the approved cause of mesothelioma cancer.
Asbestos is a mineral substance that was used in the production of building materials and other products in the late 80s.
Asbestos fibers can be inhaled or contacted in an old building or a working place like construction companies, factories, and manufacturing industries that use asbestos for the production of cement, textiles, gaskets, ceiling, etc.
Workers at a higher risk of getting exposed to asbestos are Firefighters, Auto mechanics, carpenters, aircraft workers, construction workers, electricians, jewelers, millwrights, Refinery workers, plumbers, boiler workers, machine operators, insulators, industries workers, teachers, and more. 80% out of 100% percent of these workers have been exposed to asbestos, according to WHO [the world health organization] has reported that asbestos exposure has caused death to half of the occupational workers that were diagnosed with cancer.
How does asbestos cause mesothelioma cancer?
Exposure to asbestos-contaminated products may cause mesothelioma cancer to grow and develop within ten to fifty years. Asbestos exposure happens in 2 ways.
Primary exposure is when an individual gets exposed to asbestos directly from school or the workplace.
Secondary exposure is when a worker carries and transfers asbestos fibers to another location.
E g if Mr. A is a worker and Mr. B is a family member, Mr. A may unknowingly carry asbestos fibers on his skin or clothe from the company where they use or produces asbestos products to Mr. B. once Mr. B inhales the fiber it is called a secondary exposure since Mr. B did not get exposed directly from the workplace.
According to the mesothelioma researchers report, these are quick facts on how asbestos causes mesothelioma cancer.
- When a person swallowed or inhaled asbestos fiber
- It will get stocked in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
- It will damage the organs or DNA
- Which causes the cancerous cell to grow
- Then leads to mesothelioma cancer
How do you get mesothelioma?
Asbestos exposure is the confirmed cause of mesothelioma cancer. Asbestos is an invisible fiber that can not be seen with our eyes, these tiny fibers can not be dissolved with just water.
Asbestos exposure occurs or affects people working in an asbestos company
Even individuals that are not working in any asbestos-manufacturing industries can get secondarily exposed to asbestos but have a lesser risk of exposure.
However, a person can get exposed to asbestos fiber when there is an asbestos-contaminated product in the school or old building.
Secondary exposure is known as secondhand exposure because it hasn’t gotten directly from the company or workplace.
When you inhale asbestos fiber, symptoms may hide for years, become unnoticed, and be overlooked.
Since mesothelioma is a deadly disease and asbestos is the definitive cause of mesothelioma
Companies that produce and use asbestos-contaminated products have a general rule and share vital information or instructions on how they can prevent exposure.
Mesothelioma risk factors
Some factors can increase your chance of developing mesothelioma cancer.
Mesothelioma researchers or doctors have listed many risk factors that can increase the development of mesothelioma cancer. note that, this risk factor can increase your chance but may not necessarily cause mesothelioma.
Risk factors like age or gender have been one of the factors that can influence the development of mesothelioma cancer.
Every disease has its own causes and risk factors. Some of the risk factors that can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma are.
- Old age
- Poor overall health
- Drinking of alcohol
- Radiation exposure
- Smoking
- Gender
- Zeolite exposure
- Germline BAP1 mutation
- Simian virus 40
Risk factors in Elderly individuals: Old age is the number one risk factor that can increase your chances of developing mesothelioma cancer. According to intensive research, the elderly o mostly develop mesothelioma cancer because mesothelioma symptoms can stay hidden inside your body after exposure for up to 10 years to 50 years without any visible symptoms. Anybody can get exposed to asbestos at any age but what makes it seem as if it is more common in the elderly is because of the mesothelioma’s long latency period.
One of the common beliefs in our society today is that the elderly only develop mesothelioma cancer. This is a misconception and it is what we shouldn’t believe in this 21st century.
Younger patients around 45 years have also been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.
Here is reliable information from the Centers for disease control and Prevention [CDC] and the estimated number/ age of people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer from 1999 to 2018.
- About 5,280 younger patients under the age of 55 were diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.
- About 58,707 older patients 55 and more years were diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.
Mesothelioma’s long latency period which is between 10 to 50 years may have caused or increased the higher risk of older individuals developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma researchers have devoted their time to finding and gaining knowledge on potential genetic factors that can cause mesothelioma cancer to develop at an early age because the early diagnosis has a favorable treatment option.
Risk factors on Gender: Men have been confirmed to be at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma cancer, though mesothelioma cancer is not for a particular gender it occurs mostly in men.
From 1999 to 2018, a report has it that there were a greater number of men than women who were diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, the reason may be because men mostly work in a company or manufacturing industries that use or produce asbestos-contaminated products.
In the last few years, the number of women that were diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer has moved from a lower to a higher rate, despite the increase in the number of women diagnosed with mesothelioma, men are still at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma cancer. Other mesothelioma risk factors that can increase your risk of developing mesothelioma cancer are :
Obesity: As reported by researchers, obesity may contribute to your risk of developing mesothelioma cancer. But might be caused by other risk factors associated with obesity. For instance, underlying health problems may be contributing to obesity. And those health problems may influence the higher risk of developing mesothelioma cancer.
Alcohol: Taking alcohol regularly or daily may increase your risk of developing mesothelioma cancer. Take precautions in alcohol consumption to avoid this high risk.
Food: There is food that may increase your chance of developing mesothelioma cancer. Food containing acrylamide eg. French fries and meat prepared with high heat.
Simian virus 40 [SV40]: Research indicates that this infection [Simian Virus 40 ]can contribute to your risk of developing mesothelioma.
It has proven to be accurate in a few cases; the test has confirmed that Simian Virus 40 also fights antibodies in the blood of a pleural mesothelioma patient
Radiation Exposure, Germline BAP1 Mutation, and Erionite/ Zeolites may increase your risk of developing mesothelioma cancer.
Can Smoking Cause Mesothelioma?
This question has been asked severally, honestly smoking Research has not established a conclusive connection between mesothelioma and smoking.
But smoking has a connection with lung disease and other types of cancer. Asbestos exposure may likewise influence lung diseases. Research has proven that anyone exposed to asbestos and smoke has a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Recent proof does not back up that smoking raises your risk of developing mesothelioma. Nevertheless, smoke inhalation may cause the body to respond to asbestos fibers. And may impact an individual’s risk of developing mesothelioma cancer.
Some of the cigarettes we consume on a daily basis contain asbestos fitters like Kent Microsite. Asbestos filters and smoking may increase exposure to asbestos.
According to studies, smoking affects the lungs by
- Slowly weakening the lungs’ tissues
- Reducing overall healthiness
- Increasing mucus production.
Conclusion
The main cause is anything that can lead to mesothelioma, and risk factors are anything that increases your chances of developing mesothelioma cancer. As promised, we have provided you with detailed information on the causes of mesothelioma and the risk factors.
It should be noted that asbestos exposure is the leading cause of mesothelioma cancer. When you inhale asbestos fibers, you are exposed to it.
All of the risk factors mentioned in this post may increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. Please consult with your doctor if you have had any type of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma specialists are prepared and committed to providing all detailed information about mesothelioma symptoms.
