Asbestos Cancer

Gastrointestinal

Since the use of asbestos in building and commercial applications first came into vogue in the early part of the last century, many thousands of innocent people have been exposed to the fibrous mineral, which scientists have determined in the last 3 decades to be a human carcinogen, causing the development of cancer in people with whom it comes into contact. To read more about asbestos, please see Asbestos Overview.

Each year, an estimated 10,000 Americans die from diseases caused by exposure to the deadly material, and some authorities speculate that, due to the nature of the development of asbestos-related diseases, the peak incidence of asbestos-related disease diagnosis will not occur until 30 to 40 years after the peak usual of the material, which puts the next few years at the apex of the global asbestos pandemic. For many years, asbestos was used in countless industries; and as a result of the prevalence of its usage, many millions of people will likely develop serious or life-threatening illnesses. For information about at-risk workplaces, please see Occupations at Risk for Asbestos Exposure.

While in recent years, an average per year of 2000 individuals in the United States were diagnosed with mesothelioma, and another 3000 were diagnosed with lung disease related to asbestos exposure, there is another, perhaps less commonly diagnosed illness that may be caused by asbestos and is equally devastating to those whose bodies it ravages. Although the possibility of a causal relationship between exposure to asbestos and the development of gastrointestinal cancers has not been confirmed, many experts and authorities on the subject of cancer and asbestos agree that exposure to asbestos may have a strong link or at least a correlation with the development of such cancers.

For instance, in one study conducted by the Cancer Registry of Norway, scientists found that lighthouse keepers who drank water that was tainted with asbestos particles had an elevated incidence of stomach cancer. These scientists concluded that the results support an association between ingestion of asbestos and some gastrointestinal cancers. According to the findings of another study, all workers who have been exposed to asbestos show an elevated risk for developing stomach and gastrointestinal tract cancers, a finding that should serve as an urgent message to workers who believe they have been exposed to asbestos and may be at risk for developing a gastrointestinal cancer.

So what exactly is a cancer of the gastrointestinal tract? Such a cancer usually grows slowly and forms cells that produce hormones in the gastrointestinal tract, including the appendix and small intestine. Studies show that having gastrointestinal cancer increases a person's risk for eventually developing cancers of the stomach and other regions of the body. Like other cancers associated with exposure to asbestos, gastrointestinal cancers caused by ingestion of or exposure to asbestos may remain latent for a long period of time, taking years or even decades before it begins to present symptoms. This poses a serious challenge to victims of asbestos exposure and the doctors treating them, because a cancer may develop to a critical stage before it is easily diagnosed.

Unfortunately, gastrointestinal cancer - as opposed to lung cancer - may show no symptoms in its early stages, making it difficult to detect. Once the cancer has spread to the liver, an afflicted individual may experience a flushing of the neck, diarrhea and stomach ailment and shortness of breath or wheezing. Of course, as these symptoms may appear only in later stages of illness, in cases of asbestos exposure particularly, you should take early action if you believe you may be at risk for developing gastrointestinal cancer. If you have been exposed to asbestos at any time, please contact a physician and an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who can help you to seek proper treatment and compensation for your illness.

A number of factors will influence your level of risk for developing gastrointestinal cancer. First, the amount or volume of asbestos to which you have been exposed plays a part, as does the amount of time you have spent in an environment contaminated with friable asbestos particles. As each of these factors increases numerically, so does your risk of developing a serious illness like gastrointestinal cancer. Finally, aspects of your lifestyle are factors as well, such as your general health and ability to fight off disease, your medical history and a previous cancer of the stomach or gastrointestinal tract. If you smoke, you are more likely to develop gastrointestinal cancer after being exposed to asbestos.

Once you have contacted a cancer doctor, you may be diagnosed with the help of a number of medical tests, including a physical exam and medical history, urine tests and blood counts. These scientific methods are the only sure way to know whether you have developed an asbestos-related cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, so if you believe you have ever been exposed to asbestos, please seek the counsel of a knowledgeable attorney and a physician. The longer you wait, the greater the challenges posed in treatment and litigation for medical expenses. If you suspect you may be at risk, please take action today!

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