Mesothelioma is a serious type of cancer that affects the thin layer of tissue, the mesothelium, which covers most internal organs. It is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one person to another. Interacting with patients with mesothelioma does not increase the risk of developing the disease. However, some people may be more likely to develop mesothelioma than others due to their exposure to asbestos, genes, or radiation therapy in the past.
Exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of pleural mesothelioma. About 8 out of 10 people with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they travel to the ends of the small airways and reach the pleura, where they can cause inflammation and scarring. This can damage the cells' DNA and cause changes that cause uncontrolled cell growth.
If ingested, these fibers can reach the abdominal lining, where they may play a role in causing peritoneal mesothelioma. Very rarely, mesothelioma can be inherited through a mutation of the BAP1 gene, which may increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma when exposed to asbestos. People exposed at a young age, for a long time, and at higher levels are more likely to develop this cancer. Even so, most people exposed to asbestos, even in large numbers, do not get mesothelioma.If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos at work, home, school, or in the military, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Cases of mesothelioma grew in the 20th century when asbestos became the preferred insulator for its fire and heat resistant properties from the early 20th century to the 1970s. If you have used certain beauty, cosmetic, or household products that contain or contain asbestos, such as talcum powder, you could also be at risk of developing mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.The time between the first exposure to asbestos and the diagnosis of mesothelioma is usually between 20 and 50 years. In Michigan, Serling & Abramson has represented many spouses or children of merchants who were exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma through washing the work clothes of family members.Although you can get asbestos from someone else, you cannot get it from another person. Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition caused by repeated exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one person to another. It is scientifically proven to be the direct result of personal exposure to asbestos fibers and is not hereditary or contagious.However, people who are not directly exposed may be at risk if they live (or lived) with someone who brought home asbestos fibers in their clothing or personal effects (more on secondary exposure below). So you don't have to worry about passing it on to others if you have mesothelioma or that patients with mesothelioma will pass it on to you as a family member.The other lawsuit was filed by the children of Lynn Haver, who developed mesothelioma from washing her husband's asbestos-contaminated work clothes. Although the most common type of mesothelioma (pleural mesothelioma) affects the lungs, there are other types of mesothelioma that do not originate near the lungs.Unfortunately, since mesothelioma in children and young people is so rare, there is not as much research on the subject as on other diseases.
The relationship between asbestos and mesothelioma is now well known and most of its use in the United States was stopped several decades ago but it is still used in some products.Despite the fact that thousands of people live with mesothelioma and new cases are diagnosed every year, it is still a commonly misunderstood disease. Currently researchers are still investigating genetic links between mesothelioma cancer and genetic mutations.Family history continues to play a role in the development of mesothelioma because between 1930s and early 1980s millions of workers unknowingly put their families at risk. Secondary exposure is cause of significant proportion of mesothelioma cases among women and children.After several years it is possible for those family members to develop mesothelioma due to inhalation of asbestos.
