What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals with current and historical commercial usefulness due to their strength, poor heat conduction, and relative resistance to chemical attack. For these reasons, asbestos has been used and, in some places, still is used for insulation in buildings and as an active ingredient in certain products, such as roofing shingles, fire blankets, and parts for motor vehicles. Workers in various occupations also used products made of asbestos without knowing the danger they faced. These products include insulation for industrial equipment, wiring, pipes, ceiling and flooring tiles, roofing, and lining for ships.
Why is asbestos a problem?
All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic. About 1.3 million U.S. workers in construction are at risk of exposure today. In the year 2016, 34,270 people died in the United States from Lung Cancer caused by Asbestos related exposure often referred to as Mesothelioma. Smoking is not linked to an increased risk for mesothelioma, and you could still be entitled to financial compensation if you or a loved one was diagnosed with this particular type of cancer. This type of cancer can cause symptoms such as discomfort and/or coughing up blood, chest pain, swollen face and neck, difficulty breathing, infections, and wheezing. Lung cancer caused by asbestos will embed itself in the lining of the lungs. Asbestos related lung cancer is caused when a person is exposed to items containing asbestos for a long period. Over time as the person continues to breathe in cancer cells start to form. This type of cancer can take from 15 to 35 years to fully develop. However, there are a variety of cancers linked to asbestos exposure not just mesothelioma including but not limited to Ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer, throat cancer, ovarian cancer, and other types of lung cancer. The two types of lung cancer are small cell and non-small cell. Asbestos can cause either type of cancer. Non-small cell cancer is diagnosed in about 85 percent of lung cancer patients. These symptoms don’t show up until the cancer is in its later stages when it’s harder to get rid of.
Doctors mostly prefer to use chemotherapy to treat small cell cancer. Asbestos and lung cancer are usually linked together because asbestos fibers in the lung tissue put you at high risk for both. Asbestos lung cancer can be diagnosed with x-rays and a sample of the patient’s lung tissue is needed. Treatment for this type of cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Surgery is only a good option when the cancer is in its early stage. The surgery can be to remove a tumor, a small part of the lung, or the whole lung. Chemotherapy is used to minimize tumors and get rid of cancer cells. Radiation therapy is used to get rid of cancer cells or delay growth.
How Can We Help?
Asbestos can cause any type of lung cancer and puts your life at great risk. If you or a loved one has developed lung cancer from asbestos exposure reach out to The Law Offices of Rudolph F.X. Migliore, P.C. Our firm is accepting cases related to lung cancer caused by asbestos. Call our office at (631)-543-3663 or visit our website www.MiglioreLaw.com. We are located at 353 Veterans Memorial Highway Commack, NY 11725. We hope to bring you the justice you deserve because we are your point of contact
“Asbestos: Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 2018, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asbestos-elimination-of-asbestos-related-diseases.