Lung Cancer

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was widely used for many decades in a number of applications, most notably construction, shipbuilding, and the manufacture of consumer products. Throughout the past century, millions of Americans and people abroad were exposed to asbestos, which can lead to the development of devastating illnesses and cancers. To read more about this toxic mineral, please see Asbestos.

One of the most common forms of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos is lung cancer, a condition where the tissue cells within the lungs or bronchial tubes divide rapidly and uncontrollably with abnormal characteristics. In the United States alone, approximately 10,000 people die from asbestos-related illnesses, and many of these people are victims of lung cancer. To read about other cancers associated with asbestos exposure, please see Other Asbestos Cancers. For information about mesothelioma, please see Mesothelioma Overview.

There are two basic types of lung cancer - small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, the latter of which represents the large majority of lung cancer cases diagnosed in the United States each year. In patients with lung cancer, the tissue cells of the lungs and associated respiratory organs begin to divide abnormally at an uncontrollable rate. Cancers that develop in the lungs may metastasize to other regions of the body. These growths are composed of cells similar to those of the original tumor and are just as likely to pose a health threat to the afflicted person.

The symptoms of lung cancer are many and vary according to individual cases and factors. Some of the more common symptoms of lung cancer include persistent coughing, chest pain, changes in the color, volume, or consistency of sputum, the presence of blood in sputum, weight loss, or decrease in appetite, headaches, and general fatigue. Although these symptoms may indicate the presence of lung cancer, they are not by any means a certain measure of diagnosis. A person experiencing these symptoms must seek a medical analysis for an accurate diagnosis. Some of the tests used by physicians to determine the presence or lack of lung cancer are chest x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, and tissue tests (such as a biopsy). Only by consulting with a physician or a specialist can a patient receive a medical diagnosis of lung cancer.

From the time the dangers of asbestos began to make waves with the press and public in the early 1970s, a number of trusted authorities and organizations had determined that asbestos is a human carcinogen. Asbestos has been classified as a human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, a highly respected authority on the subject of cancer and its effects on the lives of Americans. According to experts in the field of asbestos and lung cancer, there are a number of factors that can affect a person's level of risk for developing lung cancer once they have been exposed to asbestos. The amount of asbestos exposure and the quantity of fibers that have collected in the body greatly affect one's risk of developing cancer.

It is important to remember that, as with most cancers, lifestyle plays a considerable role in the risk of developing lung cancer after exposure to asbestos. Smokers and other people who have a lung condition (or any illness) prior to exposure are at a greater risk for developing asbestos-related lung cancer, not only because their respiratory system has already been compromised, but also because of the synergistic affect of smoking and asbestos expsoure. Many people who are exposed to asbestos develop non-cancerous respiratory illnesses, such as asbestosis, which also increases the risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related lung cancer is especially problematic, because it may take many years or even decades before the first symptoms to arise. Those who believe they may have been exposed to asbestos should seek the advice of a cancer doctor and a mesothelioma lawyer.

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