According to the Safety and Health at Work, even without smoking, the more asbestos exposure you suffer, the higher your chances will be of developing lung cancer. In studies of instances of asbestos-related lung cancer since 1965, the journal found that asbestos sprayers suffered the most risk.
Not all people who have suffered exposure to asbestos develop cancer, but asbestos is a known carcinogen. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos, you may be eligible for compensatory damages from liable parties. The lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm want to see how they may be able to help you.
How Asbestos Workers Get Cancer
By the time asbestos was publicly recognized as a cancer-causing agent by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people all over the world were already previously exposed to asbestos. It was first banned in 1973 in spray applications, and later for use as pipe insulation, block insulation, fireplace embers, wall-patching compounds, and other construction materials used earlier in the 20th century.
Asbestos exposure was heavy in multiple industries, which was thought to pose a threat only for working-class men. According to one statistic from the World Health Organization (WHO), around 107,000 people die each year due to occupational exposure to carcinogens like asbestos.
People who once held the following occupations in which they may have risked asbestos exposure may include:
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- Insulation workers
- Asbestos miners
- Asbestos cement factory workers
- Asbestos sprayers
Asbestos-related illnesses may decline in the future, but there are still new cases of asbestos-related illness each year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that asbestos-related illnesses may have a latency period of up to 40 years, so initial exposure to asbestos is not always alarming for people who later become ill. They note that the survival rate is usually one year. With more public understanding of the history and regulation, or lack of regulation for asbestos, more wives and children of men who formerly worked with asbestos are coming forward with cases of asbestos-related illness. Asbestos exposure can cause pleural plaques, pleural effusion, pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis), along with mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Treatment Costs for Asbestos-related Illness
Treatment costs, times, and applications will vary based on when an asbestos-related illness is caught, and the known extent of the severity of illness. Each patient with suspected mesothelioma will require an individual consultation and long-term treatment plan with a medical expert, with varying out-of-pocket costs.
Some asbestos-related illnesses are classified as general asbestosis, which can lead to progressively worse conditions, like mesothelioma and lung cancer. All can be caused by unnecessary exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma
Cancer that affects the linings of the body is called Mesothelioma. A dominant type of mesothelioma is pleural, or cancer that starts in the chest or lungs. As with all cancers, there is no typical progression or expectations for how it will affect an individual. Mesothelioma is commonly seen in people who work with different known toxic substances, from asbestos, to radiation, and zeolites. Workers could also have a history of exposure to these carcinogens on the job.
Lung Cancer
When doctors perform chest X-rays on asbestosis patients, they can see the presence of asbestos in the lungs, along with any signs of cancer, like tumors on the lungs. Asbestosis patients are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer than other people who were not formerly diagnosed with asbestosis. Treating cancer will depend on the stage at which it is caught and diagnosed.
Of course, the costs will vary with treating cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. Additionally, the emotional, physical, and mental costs of a diagnosis like mesothelioma or lung cancer can be devastating.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 217-6099
Consider Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for Help with Your Case
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, you have the choice to work with a lawyer to seek reparations from liable negligent parties. Most people would not willingly choose to suffer exposure to a toxic substance like asbestos, knowing what the health consequences could be. You especially should not suffer at the hands of your former employer.
When you work with the lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we can help you build a case. We will help you understand your legal options, file all necessary documentation, and fight for your rights. You do not have to face the battle against work-related mesothelioma or lung cancer alone. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for a free consultation. You can reach us at (800) 307-3113.
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