People exposed to asbestos have a higher risk of lung cancer. Breathing in asbestos fibers can make lung cancer 5 times more likely. It may take 15 to 35 years after asbestos exposure for cancer to develop.
What Should I Know About Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos?
Asbestos exposure causes a small percentage of lung cancer cases every year. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers. A 2023 report indicates asbestos exposure makes lung cancer 5 times more likely.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It kills more Americans each year than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. Lung cancer from asbestos exposure causes an estimated 6,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.
The military’s heavy use of asbestos put veterans and civilian workers at higher risk. Mining, construction, heavy industry, shipbuilding and firefighting are also higher-risk groups.
Mesothelioma vs. Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma is cancer that starts in the lining around certain organs. Pleural mesothelioma begins in the lining of the lungs. Because it’s close to the lungs, it’s often confused with lung cancer.
Asbestos-related lung cancer starts inside the lungs. Both mesothelioma and lung cancer come from asbestos exposure, but they’re not the same. They can take decades to appear, but once they do, they can spread quickly.
Doctors use similar tests to diagnose both. But these cancers grow differently and need different treatments. Asbestos causes about 6 times more lung cancer than mesothelioma. Lung cancer also causes the most deaths from asbestos-related diseases.
What Are the Types of Asbestos Lung Cancer?
There are two main types of asbestos-related lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Typically, NSCLC accounts for about 80% to 85% of all lung cancer cases. SCLC accounts for 10% to 15% of all cases.
Small cell lung cancer grows more aggressively than non-small cell lung cancer. It also has distinct characteristics when viewed under a microscope. Its cancer cells are small and oat-shaped. They’re smaller and more uniform than the larger, varied cells in NSCLC.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Asbestos exposure can cause NSCLC, which accounts for about 85% of all lung cancer cases. There are 3 subtypes: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
Non-Small Cell Subtypes
Adenocarcinoma
Squamous Cell (Epidermoid) Carcinoma
Large Cell (Undifferentiated) Carcinoma
The prognosis for NSCLC depends on a variety of factors. Cancer stage, gene mutations and how you respond to treatment all shape your outlook.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Exposure to asbestos can also cause small cell lung cancer. This type makes up 10% to 15% of cases and is more difficult to treat. The cancer can spread to other parts of the body before presenting any symptoms.
Unfortunately, surgery is rarely an option with SCLC because of its metastasis. Doctors instead rely on chemotherapy to attack cancer cells throughout the body.
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Asbestos damages DNA inside lung cells, causing lung cancer. Inhaled asbestos fibers can become lodged in lung tissue. Over time, these fibers irritate and damage the lung cells. This causes inflammation and scarring. Research on asbestos and lung cancer shows the fibers may change cell DNA.
Asbestos causes the most job-related lung cancer, according to a 2020 international study. The study found asbestos responsible for 37.5% of all occupational lung cancer cases.
Asbestos-related lung cancer typically takes between 15 and 35 years to develop. Not all people exposed to asbestos will develop lung cancer. But those exposed to large amounts of asbestos for long periods of time are at the most risk.
Steven M. Markowitz, M.D., DrPH, directs the Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment at City University of New York. He says all types of asbestos cause both lung cancer and mesothelioma. But he explains, “longer, thinner fibers have a stronger association with lung cancer.”
Image shows how asbestos fibers enter the body and cause asbestos-related lung cancer tumors.
What Are the Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer?
Asbestos-related lung cancer causes shortness of breath, a cough and chest pain. These symptoms resemble other respiratory conditions ranging from pneumonia to mesothelioma. This often delays diagnosis. Lung cancer from asbestos, smoking or other causes has the same symptoms.
Asbestos Lung Cancer Symptoms
Chest pain
Chronic respiratory infections
Coughing up blood
Fatigue
Hoarseness or wheezing
Loss of appetite
Persistent coughing
Shortness of breath
Swelling of the face or neck
Weight loss
Symptoms usually only appear in lung cancer’s later stages, when it’s harder to treat. In one study, 54% of people had no symptoms at diagnosis. Anyone with past asbestos exposure should get regular cancer screenings.
How Is Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
Doctors check for asbestos-related lung cancer using scans, exams, blood tests and biopsies. A biopsy removes a small tissue sample so a pathologist can check for cancer. Doctors may use a long needle or a bronchoscope, which is a thin tube passed down the throat into the lungs.
Scans like X-rays and CTs help spot tumors. A recent study found PET-CT scans detect asbestos lung cancer as well as other lung cancers.
Asbestos causes asbestosis, a noncancerous lung disease. It’s commonly associated with asbestos-related lung cancer. Both conditions become more likely as fibers build up in the lungs. If you have asbestosis, it may show you were exposed enough to also be at risk for lung cancer. A 2024 study says doctors diagnose 2 to 6 times more cases of asbestos lung cancer than mesothelioma.
What Are the Treatment Options for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer?
Treatment for asbestos-related lung cancer includes surgery, chemo, radiation and immunotherapy. Surgery aims to remove tumors. Chemo kills cancer cells and radiation prevents recurrence. Immunotherapy can boost the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells.
Treating Asbestos Lung Cancer
Chemotherapy: This is the most common treatment when cancer has spread. It helps shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: FDA-approved drugs for NSCLC include Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Opdivo (nivolumab), Libtayo (cemiplimab), Imfinzi (durvalumab) and Tecentriq (atezolizumab).
Radiation therapy: High-energy targeted radiation can kill cancer cells or slow growth. This treatment can help prevent recurrence in some cases.
Surgery: Surgery may be an option if cancer is caught early. Doctors can remove the tumor and part of the lung. This might be a small piece (wedge), a lung lobe or the whole lung.
Sean Marchese, RN, tells us, “The most common surgery for asbestos lung cancer is a lobectomy. That means the surgeon removes a lung lobe with the most cancer.”
Clinical trials may offer new treatments. How well someone does depends on their cancer stage, health and how they respond to treatment. Care plans made just for the person and regular check-ups can help improve survival.
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What Is the Average Survival Rate for Asbestos Lung Cancer?
A 2024 Korean study found 66% of people with asbestos-related lung cancer lived 5 years or more. Most patients lived about three years after diagnosis. But in 2024, the American Lung Association said fewer than 29% of people with non-asbestos lung cancer live at least 5 years.
Fewer than 50% of all lung cancer patients survive more than one year after their diagnosis. However, an individual’s asbestos lung cancer prognosis depends on a number of factors. These include type, subtype, their overall health and how far the cancer has spread or its stage.
Some people far outlive the average prognosis. Lung cancer survivor Lisa Knickerbocker has lived more than 20 years since her diagnosis. “I imagine with that cancer, a lot of times, it doesn’t end well,” she tells us. But she says her doctor was “real proud of me, and the way it turned out. I was kind of like a prized patient.”
Hildy Grossman
Verified Asbestos.com Survivor
Lung Cancer Survivor Jazzes It up to Raise Awareness
Hildy Grossman is a lung cancer survivor who loves performing on stage. She sings for the joy of the song and the thrill she feels as a cabaret entertainer. Today she sings to save lives. Hildy’s turned her lifelong passion for musical theater into a beacon of hope. She’s created a nonprofit to support much-needed lung cancer research. It’s a volunteer-powered fundraising arm built around performing arts.
Asbestos Lung Cancer Legal Options
People with asbestos lung cancer can file an asbestos lung cancer lawsuit. If the person has died, loved ones can file a wrongful death lawsuit. KCIC’s latest report, Asbestos Litigation: 2024 Year in Review, 1,644 asbestos lung cancer lawsuits were filed in the U.S. That’s a 4% increase from 2023, the biggest jump for any asbestos-related disease.
Because this cancer can move fast, it’s best to act quickly. Our Patient Advocates can help you and your family find an experienced asbestos attorney. They can help you seek compensation to cover medical expenses, travel costs and lost wages.
Most lawsuits end in a settlement. Your asbestos lung cancer lawyer will work to negotiate a favorable asbestos lung cancer settlement for you and your loved ones. If your case does go to trial, your lawyer will manage litigation for you so you can focus on your health.
Common Questions About Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
What types of lung cancers does asbestos cause?
Asbestos exposure can cause any type of lung cancer. People with a smoking history are more susceptible to asbestos-related lung cancer. Asbestos is also the primary cause of pleural mesothelioma, a cancer that forms in the lining around the lungs and isn’t the same as lung cancer.
Does everyone exposed to asbestos get lung cancer?
Not every person exposed to asbestos will develop lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases. A person’s risk of illness will increase as their exposure to asbestos increases. Heavy and long asbestos exposure presents the highest risk.
How do doctors link lung cancer to asbestos?
The Helsinki Criteria helps doctors determine if asbestos is the primary cause of lung cancer. Diagnosis of asbestosis, higher-than-normal levels of asbestos fibers in lung tissue and heavy exposure history are all criteria. Lung cancer must have developed at least 10 years after the initial exposure to asbestos.
What is the difference between mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer?
All forms of lung cancer start inside the lungs. Mesothelioma is also cancer, but it develops in the tissue lining the outside of the lungs, chest cavity and abdomen. Asbestos exposure can cause both types of cancer.
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