Although the majority of lung cancer diagnoses are caused by smoking tobacco, other causes of lung cancer include exposure to the hazardous material known as asbestos.

Each year, nearly 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer, the disease responsible for the more cancer deaths than any other. Thousands of these lung cancer deaths are attributed to asbestos exposure.

Causes of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and is also the most deadly, with more Americans dying from this disease than any other cancer type, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The causes of lung cancer are complicated and often overlap. Though most of lung cancer diagnoses and deaths are caused by tobacco smoke, each year, more than 4,800 of these deaths are caused by asbestos lung cancer specifically. Most lung cancer caused by asbestos are also associated with exposure to tobacco smoke.

As one can imagine, this overlap is often used by companies responsible for asbestos exposure to discount the victim’s testimony and avoid culpability altogether, claiming that the diagnosis was caused by smoking rather than asbestos exposure. However, many asbestos cancer lawyers have successfully argued on behalf of their clients that asbestos exposure, not smoking, was the primary cause of their lung cancer diagnosis.

Basics of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used for commercial purposes like electrical or building insulation, but despite its formerly widespread use, asbestos has in recent years become much more thoroughly regulated, due to an increasing link to lung cancer and other serious health problems.

The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in the lungs, but then quickly spread to distant organs, which may lead to lung cancer. Because asbestos fibers can sit dormant in your lungs for a great length of time, lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure may take decades to develop. Unfortunately, patients may not be properly diagnosed until the cancer has reached a later and more dangerous stage of development.

While people exposed to asbestos at any amount can be diagnosed with cancer, the risk is heightened for those who are surrounded with dangerous asbestos fibers and fibers on a day-to-day basis, especially in large amounts and for long periods of time. Indeed, many who file lawsuits over the risk of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure do so because of years of exposure through their work.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Asbestos Lung Cancer

Companies that are responsible for exposure to asbestos can be held accountable through litigation. Seeking legal counsel from an experienced asbestos lung cancer lawyer can help you to determine the causes of lung cancer diagnosis and see if you have a case for asbestos exposure.

So far, asbestos lung cancer patients and their families have received millions of dollars in compensation through litigation against the employers and companies who allowed this exposure and failed to warn about the risks.

If you or someone you love has suffered from lung cancer after asbestos exposure, you may be able to file a lawsuit. While pursuing litigation cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by asbestos cancer, or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.