What is Asbestos Disease and Asbestos Cancer?

The most common types of asbestos disease are pleural disease and asbestosis.The most common types of asbestos cancer are lung cancer and mesothelioma, which is sometimes called mesothelioma cancer or meso. Asbestos dust can also cause several types of throat cancer - - esophageal cancer, pharyngeal cancer, and laryngeal cancer. Other possible types of asbestos cancer are stomach cancer and colon cancer.A very important characteristic of asbestos disease and asbestos cancer is the long delay, or latency period, between asbestos exposure and the onset of the asbestos disease or asbestos cancer. It is usually at least 15 years, and sometimes as long as 40 or 50 years, after the person's first exposure to asbestos dust before an asbestos disease or asbestos cancer develops. Because of this latency period, people exposed to asbestos dust many years ago are still at risk, today, to develop an asbestos disease or asbestos cancer.Only a medical doctor can accurately determine whether a person has developed an asbestos disease or asbestos cancer. If you think that you may have an asbestos disease or asbestos cancer because of your past asbestos exposure and your present physical symptoms, the Law Offices of Thomas J. Lamb, P.A. urges you to consult with a doctor, immediately.

To assist you with identifying a possible asbestos disease or asbestos cancer, here are some basic facts about asbestosis, lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma.

Asbestosis Symptoms

Asbestosis has a latency period of at least 15 years, and there may be no physical symptoms of asbestosis until 20 to 40 years after the person's first work with or around asbestos products.The usual problem complained of by a person who has developed asbestosis is shortness of breath, or "wheezing", upon exertion, i.e., dyspnea. In addition, a dry or productive cough becomes more troublesome as the asbestosis progresses.

The health problems caused by asbestosis are due mainly to lung infections, like pneumonia, that attack weakened lungs. Moreover, for a person with asbestosis, the risk of developing lung cancer is increased at least 5 times.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

Due to the latency period for lung cancer, this asbestos cancer is usually diagnosed 25 to 40 years following the person's first work with or around asbestos products.The early symptoms of lung cancer are progressive weakness, weight loss, fatigue, and coughing or spitting of blood, i.e., hemoptysis.

The more asbestos dust inhaled by a person in the past, the greater the risk of that person developing lung cancer at some time in the future.

Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms

For malignant mesothelioma, sometimes called mesothelioma cancer, or meso, the latency period between the person's first work with or around asbestos products and the start of this asbestos cancer is at least 20 years and sometimes as long as 50 years.

Shortness of breath, or "wheezing," upon exertion, i.e., dyspnea, and chest pain are the most important early symptoms of malignant mesothelioma. A dry cough, malaise, and weight loss may occur, also.

Read more about asbestos on our Asbestos Information Page