Asbestosis, sometimes called white lung, occurs as a result of long-term or heavy exposure to asbestos fibers. Individuals—often workers—inhale these fibers, which cause damage to the lungs over time.
White lung is strongly related to asbestos-related cancers. The heavy exposure required to trigger asbestosis symptoms can also cause mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer. However, these cancers can also occur in people with moderate or high asbestos exposure who do not have asbestosis.
White Lung Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
White lung symptoms include difficulty getting a full breath, dry cough, and loss of appetite with weight loss. These symptoms occur as a result of fibrosis, or scarring, in the lungs. When a person inhales asbestos fibers, they remain embedded in the lung tissue for decades. Over time, the body tries to heal the damage and leaves scar tissue.
This scar tissue does not possess the same ability to expand as the original lung tissue did. As the fibrosis continues to advance, the lung becomes stiffer and stiffer. The person must expend greater effort to take a full breath or to get their lungs to expand at all. This condition continues to progress even after exposure to asbestos stops.
White Lung Diagnosis
If you experience symptoms of white lung, your doctor will take several steps to diagnose your condition. These steps include:
- Discussing and reviewing your history of asbestos exposure
- Listening to your lungs
- Conducting pulmonary function tests
- Ordering a chest X-ray or CT scan
Treating White Lung
Treating asbestosis focuses on reducing symptoms and slowing down the progression of the disease. A lung transplant is the only option for a cure. Many patients can manage the condition for a decade or more with supplemental oxygen, lung rehabilitation, and taking other steps to reduce symptoms.
Asbestosis Connection to Asbestos Lung Cancer
People with asbestosis experience an increased risk of developing asbestos-related cancers. These include several types of lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the pleura that lines the lungs.
While these cancers can occur in patients exposed to asbestos who do not have white lung, people with white lung should continue undergoing regular monitoring and screening for signs of cancer. While white lung can progress far enough to lead to death, many people with the condition pass away because of cancer or an unrelated illness, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry.
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Legal Action from the Diagnosis of an Asbestos-Related Medical Condition
Hundreds of thousands of people have already taken action to recover a settlement or award from the asbestos company or companies that profited from exposing them to this dangerous material. If you have a diagnosis of any type of asbestos-related medical condition, including white lung cancer, you may be able to join them in this mass tort and pursue compensation. Eligible conditions may include:
- Asbestosis
- Asbestos-related lung cancers
- Mesothelioma
- Other pulmonary conditions linked to your asbestos exposure
To recover an award, we will need to prove when and where you sustained asbestos exposure, how long and how often, and the company or companies responsible. We will also need to prove the link between your condition and asbestos. Lastly, we will need to document your related expenses and losses.
Many people choose to work with an attorney to build their case and pursue a payout. In many cases, you may need to file a claim or lawsuit and pursue an award from an asbestos trust fund. Dozens of these funds exist. Courts ordered asbestos companies to establish them to ensure victims could recover compensation when the companies filed for bankruptcy.
Talk to an Asbestos Attorney About Your Diagnosis Today
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm believes you should not have to cover the cost of treatment, missed work, and other losses related to your asbestos-related condition. The asbestos company profited from the work you performed while they exposed you to this deadly material. If you qualify, we will pursue compensation to help with these costs on your behalf. We do not shy away from tough cases. Let us review your case today for free.
We never ask our clients for money out-of-pocket, and you will not need to pay for anything we do upfront. Instead, we take our fee from the award or settlement we recover from the asbestos company or an asbestos trust fund.
Our initial consultations are always free. Call (800) 217-6099 today to discuss your case with a member of our team.
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