As of January 2020, research does not give us a firm answer about whether asbestos exposure can cause pancreatic cancer. Decades of research link this dangerous material—and a known carcinogen—to many types of cancers related to inhaling the fibers.
While no clear causative link between asbestos and pancreatic cancer exists at this time, keep in mind that scientists understand little about pancreatic cancer when compared to many other types of cancer. An aggressive disease, physicians often diagnose this cancer at a late stage, only after it metastasizes to other areas of the body. These factors combine to make pancreatic cancer a serious and deadly disease.
Researchers Remain Unclear on the Role Asbestos May Play in Pancreatic Cancer
The findings of well-respected researchers do not always align, especially when looking for a link between asbestos and pancreatic cancer. No clear picture exists of the role asbestos exposure plays in causing pancreatic cancer—perhaps the two do not link at all.
An article from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health lists many of the environmental risk factors for pancreatic cancer that contribute to the development and progression of the disease, including exposure and accumulation of asbestos fibers. The list also includes exposure to:
- Mutagenic nitrosamines
- Organ-chlorinated compounds
- Heavy metals
- Ionizing radiations
- Tobacco smoke
- High doses of alcohol from drinking
The study reveals a number of other factors, such as obesity and genetic factors that play a crucial role in the disease’s progression.
An analysis of occupational exposures and pancreatic cancer described the evidence linking pancreatic cancer and occupational asbestos exposure as “weak or non-positive.” However, this paper also calls for more research on how occupational, environmental, and lifestyle factors contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer.
Asbestos Can Cause or Contribute to Many Types of Cancer
Scientists do not dispute, however, the dangerous nature of asbestos and the malignant and nonmalignant conditions that can occur as a result of occupational exposure or other moderate to heavy exposure. According to the National Cancer Institute, there is a link between asbestos exposure and cancer risk, and it can cause a number of cancers, including:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Cancer of the larynx (voice box)
- Ovarian cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pharynx (throat) cancer
- Cancer of the colorectum (colon or rectal cancer)
In addition to the most common type of mesothelioma that affects the lining of the lungs, this type of asbestos-related cancer can also affect the thin lining of the abdomen or the lining of the heart.
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You May Still Have a Valid Asbestos Lawsuit or Claim
You will face challenges in recovering an award for pancreatic cancer in an asbestos case, but you can overcome these challenges. To build a compelling case, you will need proof of asbestos fibers in your abdomen. You may also need medical expert witnesses or others who can provide a strong link between your exposure and your cancer.
While much of the asbestos legal action focuses on mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, according to the Rand Institute for Civil Justice, some people have presented strong cases to show they developed cancer in other areas of their bodies because of their occupational asbestos exposure.
If you face pancreatic cancer or any other serious medical condition and can prove its connection to your occupational exposure to asbestos, you deserve compensation to help with your care and other damages. These costs should not fall upon you or your family. Instead, the companies who made millions of dollars while putting workers like you in harm’s way should pay.
Talk to an Asbestos Attorney from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm
The attorneys from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm do not shy away from tough cases. We will work to find evidence that supports your asbestos case based on your pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Reach out to our team today for your free case review. We can explain the strength of your case and determine if you may be eligible.
When you call on our team, we set a time to discuss your case with you as soon as possible. If we decide to work together to file a claim or lawsuit, you will not have to pay us anything out of pocket and nothing upfront. Our firm takes our attorney’s fees out of your award before we forward the rest on to you.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 217-6099 today for your free case review and consultation with a member of our asbestos cancer team.
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