What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most internal organs of the body. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
What is the mesothelium?
Mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most internal organs of the body. It consists of two layers of cells: one layer immediately surrounds the organ, other forms of sac around it. Mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the lungs expand and contract) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
Mesothelium has different names depending on their location in the body. Peritoneal mesothelial tissue that covers most of the abdominal cavity. Pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. Mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. Endometrial serous covering internal reproductive organs of women.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although the incidence has increased over the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma is most common in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women of any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. The history of asbestos exposure at work in about 70 percent to 80 percent of cases. However, mesothelioma reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and fabrics. Asbestos is widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, tiles, floor coverings, textiles, and insulation. If small asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, which can be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (cancerous disease, chronic lung), and other cancers, such as the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of the consumption of snuff and asbestos significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways in the lungs.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since late 1800. Much greater use during World War II. Since early 1940, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, the increased risk of developing mesothelioma was found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos workers and heating construction industries, and other traders. Today, the U.S. security and health (OSHA) has set limits on acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of infection.
The risks associated with asbestos disease rises with heavy exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some people just have developed a brief mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers at increased risk of developing mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases, possibly, others. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To minimize the exposure of family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change clothes before leaving the workplace.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most internal organs of the body. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
What is the mesothelium?
Mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most internal organs of the body. It consists of two layers of cells: one layer immediately surrounds the organ, other forms of sac around it. Mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the lungs expand and contract) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
Mesothelium has different names depending on their location in the body. Peritoneal mesothelial tissue that covers most of the abdominal cavity. Pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. Mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. Endometrial serous covering internal reproductive organs of women.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although the incidence has increased over the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma is most common in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women of any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. The history of asbestos exposure at work in about 70 percent to 80 percent of cases. However, mesothelioma reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and fabrics. Asbestos is widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, tiles, floor coverings, textiles, and insulation. If small asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, which can be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (cancerous disease, chronic lung), and other cancers, such as the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of the consumption of snuff and asbestos significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways in the lungs.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since late 1800. Much greater use during World War II. Since early 1940, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, the increased risk of developing mesothelioma was found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos workers and heating construction industries, and other traders. Today, the U.S. security and health (OSHA) has set limits on acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of infection.
The risks associated with asbestos disease rises with heavy exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some people just have developed a brief mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers at increased risk of developing mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases, possibly, others. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To minimize the exposure of family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change clothes before leaving the workplace.
