Archive for 'Mesothelioma'
How Does Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma?
Posted on 27. Jan, 2009 by admin.
Asbestos is a natural mineral fiber. It is made up of long microscopic strands of fiber with very tiny hooks. The shape of the substance is what gives it it’s hazardous properties. When inhaled or ingested, asbestos hooks onto the soft tissue inside the body. It can remain in place forever. Our immune system sees this as a foreign substance and tries to attack it but the fibers are usually too large to be consumed by the white blood cells. Asbestos fibers are very strong. They are stronger than steel cables of the same diameter. The durability of these fibers means that they can resist being broken down by our bodies natural immune systems.
The exact process of a cell becoming cancerous with these fibers is not completely understood. Science does have a few theories. One of them is that the fibers are toxic to the soft tissue that they embed themselves into. There is also some evidence that a certain virus called SV40 works with the asbestos to create the cancer. These are only theories and it may take years to discover the true answer.