ASBESTOS AND CANCER
Mesothelioma and the multiple dangers of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking

For cigarette smokers, the risk of developing lung cancer after exposure to asbestos is increased by as much as 90 times. According to statistics from the Environmental Working Group, some 5,000 people in the United States pass away each year from asbestos-related lung cancer.

ASBESTOS LUNG CANCER AND CIGARETTES

October 21, 2009 - While everyone knows that cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, many people are unaware that exposure to asbestos can also cause lung cancer.

For people who have been exposed to asbestos and continue to smoke cigarettes, the risk of developing lung cancer is increased by as much as 90 times. These individuals are also at a greater risk of developing both asbestosis and mesothelioma.

But there is hope for smokers who have experienced asbestos exposure. Evidence suggests that asbestos-exposed workers who quit smoking can reduce their risk of developing lung cancer by up to 50 percent within five years of quitting.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer almost exclusively caused by regular occupational asbestos exposure. The condition develops when the fibers of asbestos are inhaled and become lodged in the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).

Time to seek justice

Weitz & Luxenberg has protected the legal rights of asbestos-exposed workers since 1986. And in that time the firm's mesothelioma lawyers have won several billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and seek a free legal consultation, please notify us through the questionnaire on this page. We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.

Please know, Weitz & Luxenberg works on a contingency basis, so there is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or settlement.