ASBESTOS DISEASE

Asbestos exposure causes fatal lung diseases, including mesothelioma

If you have been diagnosed with a serious asbestos job-related disease like asbestosis or mesothelioma, you have a right to seek compensation.

Four specific diseases are linked to asbestos exposure: mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural plaque & thickening.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the thin membranes lining the thoracic and abdominal cavities and surrounding internal organs (including the gastro-intestinal tract). Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure. Symptoms of mesothelioma are: shortness of breath, pain in the lower back or side of the chest, coughing, and weight loss. Mesothelioma is the most insidious of the asbestos-related diseases in that it takes decades to develop and by the time it is diagnosed, the cancer has progressed to a dangerous late stage of development.

Lung Cancer is the most common type of cancer, found in individuals who have sustained prolonged exposure to asbestos. Lung cancer, asbestos-related or otherwise, develops through the surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages. The time between exposure to asbestos and the occurrence of lung cancer is often 20 to 30 years or more. It should be noted that smokers who are exposed to asbestos must endure an extreme susceptibility to lung cancer.

Asbestosis is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous fibrous hardening and scarring of the lungs. This scarring can cause lung impairment and heart disease. Symptoms of asbestosis are: shortness of breath, coughing and a dry crackling sound while inhaling. In advanced stages, asbestosis may cause cardiac failure. Asbestosis is a slowly progressive disease with a latency period of 15 to 30 years or more.

Explore your legal options

For those individuals seeking mesothelioma legal support, please consider Weitz & Luxenberg. Our law firm has helped thousands of clients obtain large financial compensation awards for their injuries. If you have been exposed to asbestos and have developed an asbestos-related disease, please complete the form on this page for a free case evaluation.