Asbestos Injury
MESOTHELIOMA |
LUNG CANCER |
ASBESTOSIS | PLEURAL
DISEASE |
OTHER CANCERS | MESOTHELIOMA DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT |
LUNG CANCER
Lung cancer (also known as bronchogenic carcinoma) is a disease
that can be caused by asbestos exposure, particularly in people
who also smoked cigarettes.
In a leading study of asbestos workers conducted at Mt. Sinai
Medical Center in New York, it was found that asbestos workers
who also smoked cigarettes had a 53 times increase in lung
cancer deaths when compared to people who neither smoked
nor were exposed to asbestos. For non-smokers, the rate of
lung cancer deaths was 5 times greater than the general population.
The Mt. Sinai study showed that asbestos exposure and the carcinogens
in cigarette smoke act "synergistically" to multiply
the risk for lung cancer in those people exposed to both substances.
All lung cancer cell types can be caused by asbestos. These
include adenocarcinoma, bronchoalveolar, small cell, large cell,
oat cell and squamous cell. Primary lung cancers caused by asbestos
may occur in either lung and may be located in any of the lobes
of the lung. Additionally, lung cancer can be related to asbestos
exposure whether or not a person also has pulmonary asbestosis
or asbestos-related pleural disease. (Although it would not
be uncommon for a person to have both asbestosis and lung cancer.)
The latency period for lung cancer is quite long, ranging from
15 to 20, 30 or more years from first exposure. While lung cancer
attributable to cigarette smoking (which has a similar latency
period) has been well-documented, less attention has been focused
on asbestos-related lung cancers. It should be noted that when
a person stops smoking cigarettes, his lung cancer risk immediately
begins to drop, approaching the risk of a non-smoker 10 to 15
years after quitting. For someone occupationally exposed to
asbestos, however, his lung cancer risk remains high even if
he stopped smoking many years before (since microscopic asbestos
fibers can remain in the lungs, continuing to do damage, for
a lifetime.)
The prognosis for someone diagnosed with lung cancer is often
good. Particularly if it is diagnosed early, surgery, chemotherapy,
radiation or some combination of these treatments can often
result in complete remission and long-term survival. Additionally,
modern treatments, especially chemotherapy, have far fewer side
effects than they did even a few years ago. (See links below
for more complete treatment options.
Your Legal Rights
If you or someone you know is suffering from lung cancer and/or
lung disease asbestosis, mesothelioma or other asbestos related
diseases caused by asbestos or asbestos containing products,
you may be eligible to file a claim.
CLICK
HERE TO CONTACT THE ASBESTOS & MESOTHELIOMA LAWYERS NOW
FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION, OR CALL US AT 1-800-955-0815.
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