Causes of Mesothelioma

One of the main causes of mesothelioma is the exposure to asbestos. This can increase the risk of developing the disease significantly. Breathing in asbestos dust or ingesting asbestos fibers over long periods of time can cause an irritation that can lead to the development of a tumor. Inhalation of asbestos can cause the asbestos particles to stick to the linings of the throat, bronchi, trachea and ultimately to the delicate lining of the lungs. Ingesting asbestos can irritate the lining of the stomach and abdominal cavity as well and lead to peritoneal mesothelioma. However, there are also many cases where people have worked with asbestos but not developed the disease. This indicates that there are other risk factors at play that increase a person’s chance of developing the disease.

The main risk factors of mesothelioma include:

Direct exposure to asbestos, especially for people working in industries such as mining, railways, automobiles, ship builders, and construction workers.
Duration of exposure to asbestos also determines the risk of developing mesothelioma. If people were exposed to higher levels of asbestos for longer periods of time, the risks were higher. Risks of asbestos exposure are also life long as the disease does not necessarily develop immediately and diagnosis can even occur up to 30 to 50 years after the exposure
Exposure to naturally occurring asbestos as is found in certain types of rocks and soil or water supply
Living with a family member who works with asbestos
The older you are, the higher the risk of developing the condition. Mesothelioma tends to mostly affect people over 65
Men are more affected by the condition than women.
Research indicates that there is a link between the simian virus (SV40) used in polio vaccines and mesothelioma. At one point of time, millions of people were exposed to this virus, as it was part of the polio vaccine received. Once authorities linked certain types of cancers with this particular virus it was immediately removed from the polio vaccine but for many people the damage was already done
During the 1920s through to the 50s, a radioactive substance known as thorium dioxide was used in x-rays. Some experts believe that exposure to this substance increases the risk of developing mesothelioma
Radiation therapies to the chest or breast to treat cancers has also been linked to mesothelioma
A history of mesothelioma in your family may increase your chances of developing the disease but more research is still required to prove this theory.

Types

Signs & Symptoms