Lung Cancer
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that for many decades was used widely in a number of applications, most notably construction and the manufacture of consumer products. During these many years when asbestos was considered relatively harmless, millions of Americans and people abroad were exposed to the material, which, when inhaled, attaches itself to the lining of the lungs, causing irritation, and often devastating illnesses and cancers. To read more about asbestos, please see Asbestos.
One of the most common forms of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos is lung cancer, a condition in which the tissue cells within the lungs and bronchial tubes divide rapidly and uncontrollably, putting the health of the afflicted individual in serious jeopardy. Each year in the United States, 10,000 people who have been exposed to asbestos die from asbestos-related illnesses, and many of these innocent people are victims of lung cancer. To read about other non-mesothelioma cancers, please see Other Asbestos Cancers. For information about mesothelioma, please see Mesothelioma Overview.
It is likely that lung cancer deaths represent a large portion of these tragic numbers. What is lung cancer? There are two basic types of lung cancer - small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, the latter of which represents a large majority of the lung cancer cases that are diagnosed in the United States each year. Lung cancer is a condition in which the tissue cells of the lungs and associated respiratory organs begin to divide with alarming, uncontrollable speed. Cancers that first begin to develop in the lungs - a cancer caused by asbestos, for instance - may metastasize, at which point the tumors spread to other regions of the body, dividing and creating additional growths. These growths are composed of cells similar to those of the original tumor, and like the initial lung cancer, are likely to pose a great threat to the health of the afflicted individual.
The symptoms of lung cancer are many, and they 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 spit or sputum, the presence of blood in sputum or spit, 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, so if you are presenting symptoms or think you may have been exposed to asbestos, scientific testing is the only way to come to a reasonable diagnosis. Some of the tests used by physicians to determine the presence or lack thereof of lung cancer are chest x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, and tissue tests such as biopsy, among others. Only by consulting with you physician or a specialist can you receive a scientific diagnosis of lung cancer, so if you are concerned about cancer, please take appropriate actions to investigate into your health.
Since the dangers of asbestos first began to make waves with the press and public in the early 1970s, a number of trusted authorities and organizations have determined that asbestos is a human carcinogen, causing cancer in human cell tissues. Asbestos has been, for instance, classified as such by the National Cancer Institute, a highly respected authority on the subject of cancer and its effects of the lives of Americans. According to experts in the field of asbestos and lung cancer, there are a number of factors that can affect your level of risk for developing lung cancer once you have been exposed to asbestos. The amount of asbestos to which you have been exposed, and the quantity of fibers that have attached to your respiratory surfaces affect your risk of cancer. A greater number of asbestos fibers can result in greater irritation and inflammation of the lungs, which can increase your risk of developing lung cancer later in life. Similarly, the duration of your exposure is a huge factor. The longer your exposure, the greater the chances are that you will inhale a large number of asbestos fibers, and with this increase in time may come an increase in fibers, lung irritation, and thus, risk for developing lung cancer.
It is important to remember that, as with most cancers of the body, your lifestyle plays a considerable role in the risks of developing lung cancer after being exposed to asbestos. Smokers and other individuals who have a lung condition or illness prior to exposure are at a much greater risk for developing asbestos-related lung cancer, as their respiratory system has already been compromised, leaving them especially prone to illnesses like lung cancer. Many individuals who are exposed to asbestos develop non-cancerous respiratory illnesses, like asbestosis, which in this way increase the likelihood that they will develop lung cancer later on.
Diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related lung cancer is especially problematic, because it may take many years or even decades before the first symptoms of the illness begin to present. If you believe you have ever, at any time, been exposed to asbestos, please seek the advice of a cancer doctor and mesothelioma lawyer. Please don't delay. Take action for your future health today.
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