Your Lung Cancer Could Be Linked To Asbestos Exposure
Lung cancer may develop years after the initial exposure to asbestos. Some lung cancer victims never consider that exposure to asbestos decades ago could cause lung cancer today.
“Of all of the diseases caused by asbestos, lung cancer constitutes the greatest health risk for American asbestos workers.”
-The Occupational Health and Safety Administration Rules and Regulations, June 20, 1986
Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos Lung Cancer
Below, we have answered some of the most common questions regarding asbestos lung cancers.
What is asbestos lung cancer?
Asbestos lung cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the lungs due to inhaling asbestos fibers. These microscopic fibers can stay in the lungs for years, irritating the tissue and eventually leading to cancer.
Unlike mesothelioma, a rare cancer affecting the lining of the lungs or abdomen, asbestos lung cancer directly affects the lung tissue, and it is more common. Around 4% of all lung cancer cases are caused by asbestos exposure.
This type of cancer can take 15 to 35 years to develop after exposure. This is why many people are diagnosed later in life, often long after their workplace exposure occurred. Symptoms may include a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue–many of which can be mistaken for other conditions in the early stages.
Who is most at risk for asbestos-related lung cancer?
Workers in certain industries are more likely to have been exposed to asbestos, especially those who spent years around materials containing the substance.
The highest risk is for people who worked in shipyards, construction, manufacturing or industrial settings before the 1980s when asbestos use was more widespread. Some of the most at-risk occupations include:
- Shipyard workers: These workers often handled insulation and materials packed with asbestos, especially in engine rooms and old vessels.
- Pipe and steamfitters: Installing and repairing pipes meant frequent contact with asbestos-wrapped insulation.
- Construction workers: These regularly came into contact with asbestos in drywall, roofing and flooring materials.
- Insulators: They dealt directly with asbestos-based insulation in buildings and machinery.
- Auto mechanics: Especially those who worked on brakes and clutches, which commonly contained asbestos.
- Boiler workers: These maintained and repaired systems that were often lined with asbestos insulation.
If you or a loved one worked in these conditions and has been diagnosed with lung cancer, it is worth speaking with our experienced asbestos attorney. We can help explore whether your cancer may be linked to asbestos and guide you through your legal options.
You Owe It To Yourself To Find Out
If you have developed lung cancer, don’t you owe it to yourself and your family to find out if it was caused by asbestos exposure? Contact an attorney at Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C., for a free consultation and case evaluation.
We retain medical specialists to review your case and determine whether your lung cancer and its symptoms were caused by asbestos, smoking or some other cause. If asbestos caused your lung disease, we will aggressively pursue financial compensation from all liable parties.
Smoking does not disqualify you from seeking compensation for an asbestos-related disease such as lung cancer, because asbestos exposure can be a contributing factor to your lung cancer.
There is a synergistic effect between smoking and lung cancer:
- Exposure to asbestos alone increases your chance of getting cancer five to 10 times over that of someone who was never exposed to asbestos.
- Smoking cigarettes alone increases your chance of getting lung cancer 15 to 20 times over those of a nonsmoker.
- Smoking cigarettes and exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung cancer 60 to 90 times over those of a nonsmoker with no asbestos exposure.
From our offices in Pittsburgh, the attorneys of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C., represent clients from throughout western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and across the nation in cases involving lung cancer and other asbestos diseases. Please contact us today by calling 412-903-9620 to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. We represent lung cancer patients on a contingency basis so you pay no attorney fees unless we win monetary compensation for the damages you have suffered.