Mesothelioma Law

In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos dust and fibers can also lead to a number of other types of cancer and serious health problems. Because asbestos was used for decades in a wide range of manufacturing processes, millions of people have unknowingly been exposed to asbestos in their workplaces. Each year, thousands of people are diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases other than mesothelioma and because these diseases sometimes don’t appear until decades after exposure, thousands more may be at risk without knowing it.

Even family members of people who have worked with asbestos in some way are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. In some cases, asbestos workers brought asbestos dust and fibers into their homes on work clothes and exposed their families without knowing it.

If you or a family member has worked with asbestos in the past, however briefly, you may be at risk for these asbestos-related diseases and should schedule a medical exam in the near future. These are some asbestos-related diseases to consider:

• Pleural plaques – Are a common affliction of asbestos exposure and appear as raised irregularly shaped masses of fibrous tissue on the pleura (protective membrane on the lung) and on the rib cage. Although they may impair lung function in some cases, pleural plaques themselves are not considered life threatening.
• Lung cancer – Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer but exposure to asbestos may lead to other types of lung cancer besides mesothelioma. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with over a million people dying from lung cancer each year.
• Asbestosis – Results in the scarring of lung tissue. Over time, the scar tissue builds up and impairs lung function so victims experience shortness of breath and are at increased risk for developing types of lung cancer.
• Other cancers – Asbestos exposure has been linked to other types of cancer in addition to mesothelioma such as colorectal cancer and cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, and may directly or indirectly lead to other types of cancer.

As asbestos workers age and more is known about asbestos exposure, medical researchers are discovering more and more about cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. Again, if you or a member of your family has worked with asbestos in the past either in manufacturing or especially asbestos removal, consult with your family doctor to protect your health and learn more about diseases that occur from asbestos exposure.