Although smoking is a more familiar cause, lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure also kills thousands of Americans every year.

Lung cancer is the most deadly cancer in the United States, killing more Americans every year than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined. Although many assume lung cancer is caused by smoking, asbestos exposure also plays a significant role in lung cancer deaths every year. It is estimated that over 6,000 Americans die every year due to lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

In 1935, medical researchers documented a link between lung cancer and asbestos exposure. Seven years later in 1942, lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure was confirmed by members of the National Cancer Institute.

Since then, countless studies have proven that asbestos can have serious effects on an individual’s health including respiratory problems and cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. In 1986, the link between asbestos and lung cancer was again affirmed when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated that lung cancer was the greatest risk for asbestos workers.

When disturbed, asbestos releases microscopic fibers into the air. Once released, these fibers can be inhaled by unsuspecting individuals and become lodged in the lungs. Because asbestos fibers are difficult for the body to expel, they can do long term damage to the integrity of cells – leading to cellular damage which causes the development of cancer.

Regardless of the cause, lung cancer often present the same symptoms: coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, wheezing, coughing blood, fatigue, loss of appetite, swelling of the face and neck and chronic respiratory infections. Although these symptoms can provide warning signs, they usually only appear once the condition reaches the later stages. Because of this, lung cancer is rarely diagnosed early on unless a patient is screened regularly for the condition.

Due to the risks associated with asbestos exposure, patients with a history of asbestos exposure may benefit from regular lung cancer screenings.

Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure is often diagnosed through a series of imaging scans including X-rays and CT scans. If a tumor is located, a biopsy can be taken and examined for the presence of cancer cells. Lung cancer can be treated through a variety of methods including chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy.

Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure may take between 15 and 35 years to develop due to the latency of asbestos related diseases. Exposure to additional carcinogens and risk factors such as smoking may decrease the latency time.

It is important to note that lung cancer caused by asbestos is difference from mesothelioma, a disease often associated with asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of parts of the body including the heart, lung, and abdomen.

If mesothelioma affects the lungs, tumors will form in the lining of the lungs. This differs from lung cancer which results in tumors in the tissue of the lung. However, both conditions are known side effects of asbestos exposure and can be fatal.