When a person is tested for lung cancer, they typically go through a combination of scans and biopsies. An X-ray scan is typical, while CT scans of the chest and biopsies can help them be certain of the presence of lung cancer.
If you or a loved one has been tested for lung cancer and received a positive diagnosis, you should consider how you may have developed the illness.
Smoking is Not the Only Cause of Lung Cancer
The American Cancer Society, while smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer, thousands of non-smokers die from lung cancer each year. Two of the primary drivers of lung cancer are asbestos and radon, naturally occurring substances that most know very little about.
Asbestos May Be in Your Home, and It Can Cause Lung Cancer
Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral that is still used in building materials today and is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in non-smokers, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Asbestos is responsible for three potentially deadly health conditions:
- Mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer for which asbestos is the only known cause
- Other forms of lung cancer
- Asbestosis
When you breathe asbestos fibers into the lungs, it causes scarring that can turn lung cells cancerous over time. Asbestos use in the U.S. puts the mineral in as many as 30 million homes, according to PBS reporting. Though asbestos is known to cause cancer, it has not been outlawed completely because it is resistant to fire and used in many commercial products.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some of the places where you might find asbestos in the home or other structures include:
- Within insulation, which may be in attics, walls, basements, and around pipes and appliances that emit heat
- In certain vinyl products such as floor tiles
- In certain types of roofing and in certain textured paints
- In heat-resistant fabrics
Because asbestos remains in certain building materials, some groups of the population may be at a heightened risk of asbestos-induced lung cancer. These groups include:
- Construction workers
- Demolition crews
- Those whose job requires them to spend times in attics or around insulation
- Car assemblers, as some car parts may contain asbestos
Anybody who spends substantial time in a structure where asbestos-containing products are exposed or not properly installed may be at risk and should be tested for lung cancer. Along with asbestos, radon gas is another silent, carcinogenic killer that you should be aware of.
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Radon Gas: A Silent, Odorless Killer
Like asbestos, radon gas is naturally occurring. It arises when uranium breaks down in soil or rock, and it becomes extremely dangerous when trapped in an indoor structure. The ACS reports that radon and cancer are linked, causing approximately 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year, and it can become dangerously prevalent in any well-sealed structure that is not ventilated regularly.
If your lung cancer is the result of radon gas exposure, you may have been exposed by somebody who failed to test for or properly remove radon gas from somewhere you spend ample time. Some possible defendants may include:
- An employer
- A landlord
- A building manager
- A municipality
If you believe that your lung cancer may be the result of radon gas or asbestos exposure, know that you have a legal route to obtaining any compensation you are eligible to receive.
A Lawyer’s Role in Pursuing Financial Awards
A lawyer can take on your legal case while you focus on getting better. Some ways that a lawyer can help include:
- Helping you identify the liable party in your case
- Initiating legal action promptly with any relevant statutes of limitations in mind
- If possible, interviewing the defendant in your case to see if they admit to negligence
- Handling all legal responsibilities necessary to bring your case to a judgment or settlement
- Protecting your rights throughout the legal process
Your lawyer will aim to prove that the defendant in your case violated your right to reasonable safety. If successful, you could be awarded compensation to cover your losses.
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Possible Damages in a Lung Cancer Exposure Case
Each radon or asbestos exposure case is unique, and there is no guarantee of which kind of awards you could be eligible to receive. With that said, some common awards in these kinds of cases include:
- Coverage of any diagnostic tests required to discover your lung cancer
- The cost of any treatment you already received for your lung cancer
- Future medical expenses incurred due to treatment for your cancer
- Once your cancer is in remission, any long-term rehabilitation and care
- The cost of transportation to medical appointments
- Lost wages or diminished earning capacity caused by your lung cancer
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages against the defendant
The circumstances of your case may entitle you to further financial awards.
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Call Our Team Today
Our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm does not shy away from tough cases. Our clients pay nothing out of pocket, nothing upfront, and only if we secure a successful outcome. Call us today at (800) 217-6099 for a free consultation.
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