Common symptoms: asbestos lung cancer has tell-tale signs

When you first felt the symptoms of your asbestos lung cancer, you may have thought it was many other things. The symptoms of asbestos lung cancer are similar to the symptoms of many respiratory (breathing) illnesses: a cough that will not go away, chest pain and discomfort, running out of breath easily, and trouble breathing. (NCI, http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics
/pdq/treatment/small-cell-lung/Patient#Keypoint2)

Mesothelioma is the most well-known cancer associated with asbestos, but toxic asbestos fibers play a role in other cancers: notably, asbestos lung cancer. Mesothelioma is the cancer of the lining of the lungs and abdomen; asbestos lung cancer attacks the lungs themselves. (ACS, http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/LungCancer-
Non-SmallCell/OverviewGuide/lung-cancer-non-small-cell-overview-what-causes)

Seeking information on medical and legal options are usually the next steps after you are diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer, and part of exploring your medical and legal options is getting to know the disease you were recently diagnosed with. Weitz & Luxenberg have helped many people who were diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer, and we provide this information as a resource for everyone suffering from the cancerous results of asbestos exposure.

Know the symptoms of asbestos lung cancer

Possible signs of asbestos lung cancer, and other types of lung cancer, include shortness of breath and a persistent cough.

Sometimes lung cancer does not cause any symptoms and is found during a routine chest x-ray. Symptoms may be caused by lung cancer or by other conditions. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

• A cough that doesn’t go away.
• Trouble breathing.
• Chest discomfort.
• Wheezing.
• Streaks of blood in mucus.
• Hoarseness.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weight loss for no known reason.
• Feeling very tired.

(list courtesy of the National Cancer Institute: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/non-small-cell-lung/Patient)

How did asbestos exposure influence my lung cancer?

Asbestos exposure is a risk factor for lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute confirms that ”asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.” (NCI) People who work with asbestos have a higher risk of getting lung cancer. If they also smoke, the risk is greatly increased. Both smokers and non-smokers exposed to asbestos also have a greater risk of developing mesothelioma. (ACS)  The combination of these two known carcinogens, asbestos and tobacco, can be deadly.

Go from suffering symptoms of asbestos lung cancer to relieving those symptoms

Weitz & Luxenberg helped the families of two men who were exposed to asbestos during their careers. These brave men were both very ill at the time they sought compensation for the asbestos exposure that led to their cases of asbestos lung cancer. Though both men had been smokers, the jury awarded these men and their families a total of $37 million.

In over twenty years of practicing law, Weitz & Luxenberg has secured over $3 billion in awards and settlements for our clients. You already suffer the symptoms of asbestos lung cancer. You do not have to suffer the costs. If you have been diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer and are considering your legal options, contact Weitz & Luxenberg via telephone or by filling out a form for your free legal consultation.

Acknowledgments:

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/LungCancer-Non-SmallCell/OverviewGuide/lung-cancer-non-small-cell-overview-what-causes

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/non-small-cell-lung/Patient

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/small-cell-lung/Patient#Keypoint2