Exposure to asbestos has been linked with asbestos small cell lung cancer, which can ultimately be fatal.

After being diagnosed with asbestos small cell lung cancer, a number of patients are filing lawsuits against their employers and even the manufacturers of asbestos products, alleging that they failed to adequately warn and protect against asbestos small cell lung cancer and other asbestos risks.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with asbestos small cell lung cancer after exposure to asbestos, you may be able to file a lawsuit. So far, victims of asbestos small cell lung cancer and other asbestos-related problems have won millions of dollars in compensation.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral used for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless other uses. The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in the lungs, but then quickly spread to distant organs. Asbestos exposure can cause several critical health problems, including life-threatening conditions like lung cancer.

Construction workers make up a large number of those who file lawsuits over asbestos and lung cancer, as construction work often involves being constantly surrounded by products and equipment made with asbestos. Sawing and cutting asbestos products makes asbestos fibers even more likely to be released into the air and into a worker’s lungs. In many cases, workers may be without proper protection or even warning of the dangers of asbestos and lung cancer.

What is Asbestos Small Cell Lung Cancer?

There are two types of lung cancer that those exposed to asbestos may face: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The vast majority of lung cancer is considered non-small cell lung cancer; around 85 percent of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with some type of non-small cell lung cancer. These include adenocarcinoma (the most common type in the U.S.), squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinomas.

Small cell lung cancer makes up the other 15 percent of lung cancer diagnoses in the U.S. Diagnosis with small cell lung cancer is more commonly linked with smoking than non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is also capable of growing more rapidly and spreading more quickly to other parts of the body.

Asbestos small cell lung cancer is most common in construction workers and others who work with asbestos-containing materials. However, dangerous asbestos fibers can also be carried home on a worker’s clothing, exposing family members as well. Others, such as home gardeners, may be exposed via simple home products containing the material.

Determining whether a patient’s cancer diagnosis is lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure is left down to a few specific criteria: first, that the latency period is ten years or more, and second, that a higher than normal amount of asbestos fiber is found in the lung tissue, indicating asbestosis.

Filing an Asbestos Small Cell Lung Cancer Lawsuit

According to many lawsuits filed over asbestos lung cancer, companies that allow workers to be exposed to asbestos should have been aware of the dangerous nature of their asbestos-containing materials. Companies should also be aware of its ability to cause disease, cancer, and even fatality.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, including asbestos small cell lung cancer, you may be able to file an asbestos lawsuit.