Asbestos is now well-known as a dangerous substance. But it was widely used for years, exposing countless workers and others to its carcinogenic fibers. Now, many who have been exposed to asbestos on the job or otherwise are being diagnosed with serious illnesses, including asbestos related lung cancer.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos related lung cancer, you may be able to pursue litigation.

Background of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that used to be popular for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, gaskets, construction materials, and countless other uses.

However, the material is now known to be hazardous, and regulations regarding the use of asbestos have been in place for decades. In fact, a probable causal relationship between asbestos exposure and lung cancer was detected in 1935. Asbestos exposure can cause several serious health problems, including asbestos related lung cancer.

Asbestos Related Lung Cancer

Exposure to asbestos comes with a number of risks, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos related lung cancer. While lung cancer is primarily associated with smoking, around 4 percent of these cases are actually caused by exposure to asbestos. Indeed, according to SEER data, more than 6,000 Americans are killed due to asbestos related lung cancer each year.

The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in a person’s lungs via the air, attacking the lining of the lungs, and then quickly spreads to distant organs. Asbestos exposure can cause several serious health problems, one of the worst of which is mesothelioma cancer.

In many cases, mesothelioma can take decades to develop (anywhere from 15 to 35 years), so it is often diagnosed at a late stage of development, when it has reached its later and more dangerous stage of development. Even though the use of asbestos has been heavily regulated in the last few decades, this delay in cancer development means that those exposed to asbestos decades ago are only now being diagnosed with life-threatening cancer.

Symptoms of asbestos related lung cancer include persistent coughing, chest discomfort or pain, coughing up blood, swelling of the face or neck, shortness of breath, hoarseness or wheezing, fatigue and loss of appetite, and chronic respiratory infections.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Asbestos Related Lung Cancer

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from asbestos related lung cancer or another asbestos disease after occupational asbestos exposure, you may be able to file a lawsuit against those responsible for your exposure to the substance. For many, this is the company they worked for as a laborer, or the manufacturer who made asbestos-containing products leading to exposure. Lawsuits alleges that plaintiffs were inadequately warned about the risk, as well as inadequately protected from the danger.

While filing a lawsuit over asbestos exposure cannot take away pain and suffering, or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical bills and lost wages.