What Types of Injuries Are Caused By Asbestos?

When a person breathes asbestos, fibers can become lodged in the lungs. Once there, they can cause scarring. Asbestos fibers can also cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. The knowledge that asbestos can cause these fatal diseases has been known by many corporations since the 1920's.

The specific disease types associated with asbestos exposure include:

Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum. It is caused by asbestos exposure, it is not caused by smoking. It can occur 10 to 50 or more years after exposure.

Learn more about Mesothelioma:
Symptoms  |  Diagnosis  |  Treatment Options

Asbestosis
Asbestos can scar the lung and the lining of the lung. This scarring is known as asbestosis or interstitial fibrosis. If enough scarring occurs, it can impair the elasticity of the lungs and hamper their ability to exchange gases. As a result, there is inadequate oxygen intake to the blood. This impairment leads to shortness of breath. Over time, the breathing capacity can diminish and in some cases, become fatal.

Asbestosis, like other asbestos diseases, is a disease of latency -- it takes 10 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos for a person to become sick.

There is no known cure for asbestosis.

Lung Cancer
Asbestos also causes lung cancer. A person who does not smoke can get lung cancer from being to exposed to asbestos. If you smoked in the past or are presently smoking, and have been diagnosed with lung cancer, asbestos may also be a cause of your cancer. For smokers, asbestos and tobacco act together, greatly increasing the risk of lung cancer. The combination of smoking and asbestos can increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

Lung cancer, depending on its severity and the medical history of the individual, may be treated.

For information on cancer treatment centers, click here.

Other Cancers:
Asbestos has also been associated with many other cancers, including cancers of the throat and stomach areas.

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What is asbestos?

What types of injuries are caused by asbestos?

What trades and occupations work with asbestos?

What types of products contain asbestos?

Could I have been exposed to asbestos in my home?

Why was asbestos used in building and insulation products?

What did companies know and when did they know it?

What is Mesothelioma? How do you get Mesothelioma?

What are the symptoms of Mesothelioma?

How is Mesothelioma diagnosed?

What is the medical staging of Mesothelioma?

What are the treatment options for those diagnosed with Mesothelioma?

How do I locate and participate in clinical trials?

What Legal Options Are Available To Individuals Injured By Asbestos?

If I Don't Remember How I was Exposed To Asbestos, What Can I Do?

What Are The Stages Of The Lawsuit And What Is My Involvement?

How Do You Prove Which Asbestos Companies Are Responsible For My Injury?

Will You File My Case As A Class Action Or As An Individual Lawsuit?

What If My Loved One Had Died Or Is Too Sick To Speak To An Attorney?

Do I Have To Pay For The Costs Of My Lawsuit?

Are There Time Limits For Filing A Legal Claim?

If I Smoked Cigarettes, Can I Still File A Claim Against The Asbestos Companies?

Which Companies Are Sued In Asbestos Cases?

I Have Read About Many Asbestos Companies Filing For Bankruptcy, How Do These Bankruptcies Affect My Case?

Which Asbestos Companies Are Bankrupt Or Out Of Business?

How Can I Find Out If I Should File An Asbestos Lawsuit?

Is There Going To Be A Trial In My Lawsuit?

How Long Will It Take For My Lawsuit To Be Completed?

How Do I Know That Belluck & Fox Will Treat My Family With Dignity And Give Individual Attention To My Case?

Can I Contact You On Behalf Of My Father, Husband Or Relative?