asbestos can lead to cancers

Extensive exposure to the toxic substance asbestos can lead to cancers such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis and various others. Asbestos are groups of minerals that come about naturally in the environment as fiber bundles and can be separated into thin threads. They are heat and fire resistant and cannot conduct electricity, and for this reason they are often used in various industries. A lot of people in the building and construction industries have had a lot of exposure to asbestos, so there are many people with those kinds of jobs who have had these cancers.

 

Identification

Because the danger of asbestos is now much more widely known than it was in past decades, the use of asbestos has become a lot more limited. However, there are latent periods for asbestos cancers, so people who worked with paints, floor tiles, roofing materials and any of the other 5,000 products that consisted of asbestos are still at a great risk for getting these cancers. Family members who were around these people when they came home from work in attire that was covered in asbestos have the potential risk as well.

Symptoms

There are various common symptoms that could be signs of asbestos-related cancers. Some of these symptoms include abdomen or chest pains, drastic weight loss, extensive hoarseness in the throat or having a hard time swallowing, shortness of breath, coughing, and blood in the fluid that is coughed up from the lungs.

Diagnosis

If you have any of the above symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately; he will most likely give you a full physical examination. You might undergo lung function tests and chest X-rays. If any type of abnormality is shown in your X-ray or lung function testing, you might have a biopsy to determine whether there is any cancerous material there and whether you have an asbestos cancer.

Treatment Choices

The type of treatment someone has to receive for asbestos cancer depends on various factors, such as the type of cancer and the extent and location of the cancer. The most common treatment options for asbestos cancer are radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy. These treatments can be performed alone, or there can be a combination of procedures conducted on a person.

Prevention/Solution

There are many corporations that have known about asbestos dangers for decades, thus putting their workers at risk in order to cut corners financially. If you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos as a result of your current or former workplace, you should consult an attorney. There are laws designed to help protect people who have been harmed by asbestos exposure.