Asbestos exposure is a leading cause of lung cancer, and the American Cancer Society estimates that asbestos-related lung cancer claims the lives of tens of thousands of people in the United States alone every year.
Lung cancer is different than mesothelioma, another asbestos-related cancer that primarily impacts the lungs. Where mesothelioma affects the pleura—the membrane that surrounds the lungs—lung cancer forms within the lungs and can spread to other parts of the body.
As with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer stems from the inhalation of carcinogenic asbestos fibers. These microscopic fibers become lodged in the lungs, where they contribute to the mutation of cells that lead to lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Symptoms
Like mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer is an aggressive and deadly disease, the symptoms of which may not be evident for decades after the asbestos exposure that causes the cancer. Asbestos-related lung cancer also shares many mesothelioma symptoms, including:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic coughing
- Sudden weight loss
- Increased fatigue
Other common symptoms of lung cancer include wheezing, coughing up blood, loss of appetite, facial swelling and difficulty swallowing.
Asbestos, Smoking and Lung Cancer
Asbestos alone can cause lung cancer, but smokers who were exposed to asbestos face a dramatically heightened risk for developing lung cancer because both cigarettes and asbestos are carcinogens that act synergistically to elevate a person's risk for developing lung cancer.
The combination of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking increases a person’s risk for lung cancer by at least 50 times, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is important to note that being a smoker does not prevent you from pursuing financial compensation for asbestos-related lung cancer.
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