Is Mesothelioma Caused By Asbestos Exposure Contagious?

Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that can be life-threatening if it appears to be malignant, causing harm to the body. Mesothelioma is the growth of cancer cells in mesothelium, a fine layer of tissue that is present on the lining of our internal organs. If you are aware of someone who is suffering from mesothelioma and are afraid that you will contract it too, do not worry. Mesothelioma does not spread from person to person as it is not contagious. Rather, it occurs when a person comes into contact with asbestos.

Contracting Mesothelioma

In most cases, individuals contract mesothelioma through the inhalation of asbestos particles. Asbestos has been found to be a mineral that is carcinogenic, and the inhalation of it gives rise to 15,000 related deaths in the US alone every year. There are approximately 125 million people across the globe who still come into contact with asbestos in their workplace although many governments have discontinued the legal use of it. Even the tiniest amount of exposure to asbestos could cause harmful health issues such as mesothelioma in the following years of the victim’s life. Coming into contact with asbestos can cause cancer at a slow pace. It usually takes about 10 to 50 years for one’s symptoms to start appearing, with both genders being susceptible to the contraction of mesothelioma once they come into contact with asbestos.

Can Cancer Spread?

Although cancer is not a contagious disease, there have been scenarios where cancer has spread between people during surgeries such as organ transplants. It is always important for health professionals to conduct thorough checks of donors so that the possibility of cancer spreading does not occur. However, there have been cases during organ transplants where the recipient contracts cancer because of how the organ was transplanted from a cancer patient.  With that being said, the recipient of the organ usually will have to consume medication that may cause their immune system to deteriorate. The patient’s body then loses the ability to resist cancer cells, as it usually would.

Mesothelioma Myths

With an increasing number of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma across the globe, it is normal for people to have misconceptions about mesothelioma. If you have been detected with mesothelioma or know of someone who has it, you should keep the truth in mind as you debunk the misconceptions regarding mesothelioma.

• Myth #1: Many people think that mesothelioma is a lung cancer. However, it is not. Even though mesothelioma causes an impact on lungs, it is different from lung cancer altogether. The development of lung cancer occurs in the lung tissues itself, whereas mesothelioma is a cancer of the tissues lining in the lungs. It is harder to cure mesothelioma than lung cancer.
• Myth #2: Many people think that to contract mesothelioma, an individual must come into contact with asbestos for a long period of time. However, that is not the case. Research has proven that it is dangerous for humans even with minimal exposure of asbestos.
• Myth #3: Many people have the misconception that mesothelioma can only be contracted by elderly. However, anyone can develop this disease. There are cases where mesothelioma has been contracted by adults as well as children.

What You Can Do

Since you understand that mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos particles, there are some steps that you should take to reduce the risk of asbestos. Here at Iris Environmental Laboratories, we offer a range of services that will help you eliminate asbestos in your property. We believe that delivering consistent service is the way to go and we seek to prioritize the needs of our customers by utilizing the best methods and systems available at a cost-efficient price. Contact us if you are looking for asbestos testing services today!