Asbestos Cancer Causes
Asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is a dreaded form of cancer which affects the lungs, stomach, abdomen, and the heart. The most common form, the pleural mesothelioma, is the cancer caused to the lungs by deposits of asbestos particles. The asbestos cancer which affects the stomach or abdomen is called the peritoneal mesothelioma. The pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart. It is estimated that most of the people in the United States have asbestos in their bodies. These asbestos fibers are entering the body along with air and water. Those fibers deposited in the lungs and heart have very little chance to escape from there. The indestructible nature of asbestos causes cancer. It affects the protective cover of the internal organs called the mesothelium.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral. It divides into smaller size again and again until they become very small in size and can be seen only by electron microscopes. They are very light weight also and float easily in the air.
The major cause of asbestos cancer is obviously exposure to asbestos. The places where asbestos is handled are likely to have tiny asbestos particles in the air. Those who are constantly exposed to the air containing these fibers inhale them and the fiber gets deposited in the lungs. This being an indestructible material causes constant irritation to the tissues in the lungs. That results in inflammation in the lungs and cancerous cells are formed there. Since asbestos is fireproof, it is widely used as building material, stove lining, flooring, ceiling, even aprons and many more purposes. That is how most of the people are exposed to the danger of inhaling asbestos particles.
About 10 to 20 percent of the asbestos cancer patients in the United States suffer from the peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer affecting the stomach or abdomen. Asbestos particles enter into the stomach through food and drinks and get deposited there. In the atmosphere of the asbestos mines, a great number of minute particles of asbestos float in the air all the time. It naturally settles into the food and drink supplied in that area. It easily goes into the digestive system through these food and drinks. While the food passes through the system, the fibrous asbestos gets deposited there and causes cancer. Another way for asbestos fiber to reach the digestive system is through the blood stream. Some of the fiber in the lungs break into smaller particles and get into the stream and go to stomach through it.
The exact causes of pericardium asbestos cancer are not very clear. But it is caused by asbestos particles for sure. It is not yet established conclusively how it reaches there. It is believed that the asbestos fiber deposited in the lungs is transported to the pericardium through the lymphatic system. Another possibility of reaching there is through the blood stream.
In any case, those who are constantly exposed to asbestos particles in the air must report to their doctors the slightest doubt about contracting the asbestos cancer. It will go a long way in getting investigated and obtain timely medical help.