Peritoneal Mesothelioma risks keep rising decades after exposure

After a few decades, the risks of pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of mesothelioma, stop rising and level off, or plateau. Sadly, with peritoneal mesothelioma, there is a different story. 
In Italy, at the University of Eastern Piedmont, a study has been run. The conclusion of this study shows that peritoneal mesothelioma risks never stop rising. (This is contrary to the risks of pleural mesothelioma, which usually plateau about forty years after the first exposure to asbestos.) What was the study? 51,801 people were a part of this study. They were divided into 43 groups. The Italian researchers wanted to test the theory that the risks of mesothelioma, a deadly disease caused by asbestos exposure, taper off. They started with the ‘time since first exposure’ of all the participants, and analyzed the data in two ways. First, they used a traditional model for mesothelioma risks, one which is called the mesothelioma multistage model. The second model was a computer one, where they calculated what the risks and mesothelioma rates might look like if the body were to clear out the asbestos fibers over time. For pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common type, risks taper off about forty years after the first exposure. Some scientists think this is because asbestos fibers in the body clear out over time. To understand why this isn’t the same for peritoneal mesothelioma, one must understand what these mesothelioma cancers are. Peritoneal mesothelioma begins in the lining of the abdomen, whereas pleural mesothelioma tumors begin in the lungs. When the microscopic fibers of asbestos are inhaled, they fix themselves into these linings. Over time, inflammation and irritation caused by these fibers causes tumors to grow. This study confirmed that risks for pleural mesothelioma continues to increase until about 40 years after the first exposure to asbestos. On the contrary, though, the risks for peritoneal mesothelioma just keep rising. Maybe the abdomen doesn’t clear out fibers as quickly. The Italian researchers say pleural mesothelioma risks fit the computer model they made of the body gradually clearing asbestos fibers out. This new discovery about peritoneal mesothelioma is quite offsetting, but pleural mesothelioma is just as dangerous. One could even argue more so, due to its commonness. Regardless of the risks, no one can afford to get off their guard. As you can read more about in this article, often mesothelioma is diagnosed quite late. Some studies have suggested that low-dose CT scans may help diagnose asbestos earlier. How does this pertain to you? Mesothelioma is a rare yet extremely dangerous disease. The average rate of life after diagnosis is less than two years. There is no cure for it, but it is preventable. Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos, in the 1960s and ’70s was commonly used in construction. Mainly old houses, but also new ones are likely to contain asbestos. So to prevent mesothelioma, prevent exposure to asbestos. How? Remove asbestos that you are constantly being exposed to. Call us today at (313) 437-4530 for a free quote for asbestos removal and testing.

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