Incubation period for mesothelioma

Most mesothelioma cases are caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for decades in commercial and industrial products. The National Cancer Institute reports that asbestos exposure in the workplace is reported in 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. However, individuals may also be exposed to asbestos in their schools, homes or workplace; through contact with a person who works around asbestos or by living in close proximity to an asbestos mine. When asbestos fibers are disturbed, they can become airborne, increasing the likelihood that they will be inhaled or otherwise ingested by those who live or work around them. These fibers can then become lodged in the mesothelium—the lining that surrounds the body’s internal organs—causing its cells to become abnormal and grow out of control.

Because the risk of a mesothelioma diagnosis increases the longer an individual is exposed to asbestos, workers who regularly come into contact with asbestos or asbestos-containing products are at the greatest risk of developing the disease. However, because any length of asbestos exposure can be hazardous to the health, even individuals who have been exposed for only a short period of time are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease later in life. Due to its long incubation period, individuals who have been exposed to asbestos may not begin to develop any mesothelioma symptoms for anywhere from ten to fifty years after they were exposed. Because the symptoms of the disease can be similar to those of other conditions, only a trained physician can determine whether a person who has been exposed to asbestos has developed one of the several types of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. Small amounts of asbestos contamination may not be sufficient to cause the disease to develop. The incubation period for mesothelioma is between 15 and 50 years, often based on exposure levels. Anyone who has possibly been exposed to asbestos should consider medical attention because the dormancy period creates a climate for malignant diagnosis in the final stage. This consideration is not limited to asbestos workers alone. There have been many buildings constructed over the past 100 years that have used materials largely composed of asbestos. Anyone is a virtual candidate for mesothelioma, based on this historical use. The families of asbestos workers are also exposed to the disease, as workers can often bring home contaminated clothing that can release asbestos fibers in handling. Mesothelioma masks itself by creating symptoms that are remarkably similar to other diseases. Congestive heart failure and pleurisy can easily be diagnosed before mesothelioma can be determined. Often mesothelioma is the underlying cause of the other conditions. The disease itself is incurable, but the symptoms can be treated because they are so common. There are nearly zero early symptoms.