Asbestos diseases are caused by exposure to asbestos. While no amount of exposure is safe, most asbestos illnesses result from years of exposure in the workplace. Asbestos causes malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis and may contribute to other illnesses.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. There is currently over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for victims of asbestos-related diseases. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
About Asbestos Diseases
Asbestos is a natural mineral that was heavily used for decades in construction and other industries. When asbestos is disturbed or deteriorates, it releases tiny fibers. People can inhale or ingest these fibers if not protected with safety gear.
In some people, ingested or inhaled asbestos fibers damage cells and tissue and cause or contribute to illness. The most serious asbestos-related disease is cancer.
What Are the Main Diseases Associated with Asbestos?
Asbestos is a carcinogen, so the main disease associated with it is cancer. Mesothelioma is most often connected to asbestos. This is because asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer and has been associated with other cancer types.
Asbestos also causes asbestosis, a non-cancerous lung disease. Asbestos may contribute to other illnesses, but cancer and asbestosis are the primary asbestos diseases.
What Is the Most Common Asbestos-Related Disease?
While mesothelioma is most often associated with asbestos, it is rare. More common is lung cancer, which can have multiple causes. Lung cancer is more often caused by smoking, but lung cancer is more common than mesothelioma among people exposed to asbestos.
Does Everyone Exposed to Asbestos Get Sick?
One of the mysteries of asbestos exposure is that not everyone gets sick from it. Anyone exposed to asbestos can potentially get sick. There is no safe level of exposure, but people repeatedly exposed to asbestos over many years have the highest risk of illness.
How Long After Asbestos Exposure Are There Symptoms?
People who get sick from asbestos exposure often don’t have symptoms for many years. Asbestos diseases, especially mesothelioma, have long latency periods.
The latency period is the time between exposure and symptoms that lead to a diagnosis. The latency period for mesothelioma is 20 to 50 years.
Mesothelioma
Although malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos, it’s the most well-known type of asbestos cancer. These are some important facts about mesothelioma:
- There are four types of mesothelioma depending on where it develops: pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, and testicular.
- Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form and develops in the chest cavity in the tissue around the lungs.
- Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma consist of chest pain, fluid buildup in the lungs and chest, fatigue, weight loss, lethargy, and shortness of breath.
- However, in some instances, only short periods of exposure have led to mesothelioma.
- Currently, there are around 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma annually in the U.S., with a current total of a little over 540,000.
- Most people diagnosed with mesothelioma are between 50 and 70, with men three times more likely to be diagnosed than women.
- The survival rate of mesothelioma is low, usually because it’s already in its advanced stages before diagnosis. Treatment options are covered in-depth in our Treatment Guide.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a type of interstitial lung disease caused by asbestos exposure. It is also a type of pulmonary fibrosis characterized by scarring in the lung tissue. It is progressive and stiffens the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Symptoms of asbestosis include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- A dry cough
- A dry crackling sound in the lungs
- Chest pains
- Chest tightness
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Finger and toe clubbing
Unfortunately, there is no cure for asbestosis, and it is progressive, which means it worsens over time. Treatment can slow the progression and improve symptoms.
Quitting smoking is one of the best things anyone with asbestosis can do. Smoking worsens the condition and symptoms. Treatments include oxygen supplementation, pulmonary rehabilitation, and, in rare cases, a lung transplant.
Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), asbestos-related lung cancer is diagnosed more than any other type of asbestos-related illness.
Up to 10,000 asbestos-related lung cancer fatalities occur annually in the United States. Asbestos-related lung cancer occurs when asbestos fibers are inhaled and become stuck in the lungs.
After years of being lodged in the lungs, these fibers eventually cause cell damage and form tumors.
Per the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the higher the amount of fibers lodged in the lungs, the higher the risk that the victim will develop lung cancer.
Symptoms of Asbestos Lung Cancer
Lung cancer symptoms are similar, regardless of the cause:
- A persistent cough
- Blood with coughing
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
- Chest pains
- Chest tightness and discomfort
- Wheezing
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Fatigue
- Chronic respiratory infections
Smoking and Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
Smoking can also play a part in asbestos-related lung cancer. If the victim is a smoker, the chances of developing lung cancer triples.
In many instances, lung cancer related to smoking can get confused with asbestos-related lung cancer. Because of this, the Helsinki Criteria were created to help determine if lung cancer is asbestos-related or from other forms.
The Helsinki Criteria mandates that the lung cancer must have developed at least ten years after asbestos exposure, that a high percentage of asbestos must be found in the lungs, and that the victim must have had prolonged and a high amount of asbestos exposure.
Other Cancers Caused By Asbestos
Although mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer are the most prevalent diseases caused by asbestos, exposure may contribute to other types.
Other Respiratory Cancers
Inhalation is the most common route of asbestos exposure, which increases the risk for several types of cancers related to the respiratory system:
- Pharyngeal cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Throat cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Asbestos has more recently been associated with ovarian cancer. Studies have found that women with a history of work-related asbestos exposure have higher rates of ovarian cancer.
Another source of exposure that might lead to ovarian cancer is talcum powder. Thousands of lawsuits in recent years have shown that women who used talcum powder for many years were at a higher risk of developing cancer. This is likely due to asbestos contamination in talc.
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Asbestos exposure may cause or increase the risk of some types of gastrointestinal cancers. While inhalation is the most common route of exposure to asbestos fibers, they can also be ingested.
Ingestion of asbestos fibers can lead to peritoneal mesothelioma, the type of mesothelioma that develops in the abdominal cavity. It may also lead to other types of abdominal cancers:
- Stomach cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Bile duct cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a respiratory illness characterized by blocked airways.
COPD mainly affects smokers, but people exposed to asbestos and other dangerous substances are also at risk. Studies suggest at least 15% of all COPD cases are associated with work-related activities, such as inhaling asbestos fibers while at a job site.
COPD is a progressive disease that gets worse over time. It manifests itself as either chronic bronchitis or emphysema.
Symptoms and Statistics
Those with COPD often suffer from a persistent, hacking cough accompanied by sputum. They may also experience difficulty breathing, fatigue, weight loss, and tightness in the chest.
COPD affects an estimated 24 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.
Treatment Options
There is no cure for COPD. However, it can be managed by various treatments, including bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory drugs, and, in extreme cases, oxygen therapy.
People with COPD can also take preventive measures to avoid exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke and other pollutants.
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a medical condition caused by exposure to harmful pollutants and underlying disorders. Asbestosis is the name for ILD caused by asbestos exposure.
Regardless of how ILD develops, all cases are marked by excessive and irreversible lung scarring.
Although treatment can’t reverse lung scarring, it can help prevent additional scarring and reduce the risks of other medical complications.
Pleural Effusion
Pleural effusion is a fluid buildup between the tissues around the lungs and the chest cavity.
Usually, the body makes a small amount of fluid to lubricate the pleural lining surrounding the lungs. However, lung injuries and diseases can cause the formation of abnormal buildups of pleural fluid.
Pleural effusions can make breathing difficult because the fluid pushes on or displaces lung tissue.
Pleural effusions alone are not life-threatening, but the conditions that create them are, such as mesothelioma.
Although the effusions usually resolve within three months, they recur frequently.
Treatment options include medications and thoracoscopic surgery, which entails draining the excessive fluid.
Pleural Thickening and Pleural Plaques
Pleural plaques are areas of thickened tissue in the pleura, the tissue that surrounds the lungs. They are common after asbestos exposure and are not usually a significant health problem. They may cause some difficulty with breathing.
Diffuse pleural thickening occurs when larger areas of the pleura thicken. This can cause more severe and debilitating symptoms. Neither condition is malignant, but they may indicate a higher risk of cancer developing later.
Diagnosing and Treating Asbestos Diseases
Diagnosis and treatment vary depending on the type of disease. Diagnosis can be difficult because asbestos diseases are not very common. If you have or suspect you have a history of asbestos exposure, you must inform your doctor.
If you have had asbestos exposure, you should undergo regular screenings. If you have symptoms, a history of asbestos exposure will help doctors make a more accurate, earlier diagnosis.
Treatment for asbestos illnesses is most effective when it begins early. The sooner you can get a diagnosis and start treatment, the better your prognosis will be. If you are unhappy with a diagnosis, don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion.
Legal Assistance
If you’ve been injured by mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.
