Asbestos exposure, as a main cause of mesothelioma, is usually occurring in males, but not because of the fact that the fibers only attack male humans, but because men constitute the majority in the respective work places. If the numbers were equal, mesothelioma cases in men and women would also be equal. The risk is equal if two people of opposite sex work in the same environment.
How do women get asbestos diseases?
The mesothelium or other soft lining tissue in women is attacked by asbestos fibers in the same way it takes place in men. The difference is the place where asbestos exposure takes place. Here are some ways women can get exposed to the mineral:
- one of their close relatives works in a place where high doses of asbestos fibers are released which tend to stick to clothing, the person brings back home the clothing he worked in and thus bringing the fibers home with him (this is why experts recommend using different clothes for work, and leaving them at the work place)
- the house the woman lives in might be insulated using asbestos insulation materials (very popular in the 90's)
- the same as above, but with roofing tiles that use asbestos as a component in the mixture
Symptoms of mesothelioma in women
Depending on the type of mesothelioma present in a woman, symptoms are similar to those experienced by men. Women mesothelioma victims will usually feel deeper pain in the chest area due to the fact that the thoracic cavity is significantly smaller compared to that of male victims, and the excess fluid is almost equal.
Women mesothelioma patients also require correct analysis in order to provide with an accurate diagnosis. The process will require clinical trials and the use of staging systems according to the type of mesothelioma, pleural, peritoneal, etc.
One important difference is that with female victims the cancer will appear faster, because tissue such as the pleura or peritoneum are thinner and easier for the asbestos fibers to penetrate, thus allowing them to develop cancer cells twice as fast as is the case with mesothelioma in men patients. Doctors also recommend different treatment methods for women with mesothelioma. Chemotherapy drugs will be slightly different from those used for male patients, and doses smaller.
Do you need more information regarding mesothelioma in women? Contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers and gain access to the latest, absolutely free.