Cancer from asbestos | How exposure can later lead to serious health problems

A lawyer may be able to help you file a claim for compensation if you have received a diagnosis of cancer from asbestos.

Many people later developed cancer from asbestos after being exposed to the carcinogen in their workplace, their communities, or their homes.

When products containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they may get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time.

Over time, these fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation, which can affect breathing and lead to serious health problems such as mesothelioma cancer and lung cancer.

Asbestos has been classified as a substance that causes cancer by numerous governmental agencies.

Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma (a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen).

Although rare, mesothelioma cancer is the most common form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure.

Who is at risk for cancer from asbestos?
People who become ill from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact.

Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos. Health hazards from asbestos fibers have been recognized in workers exposed in the shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, and a variety of other trades.

Demolition workers, drywall removers, asbestos removal workers, firefighters, and automobile workers also may be exposed to asbestos fibers.

Although it is clear that the health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found cancer from asbestos develop in individuals with only brief exposures.

Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of cancer from asbestos to develop.

How we can help people with cancer from asbestos
The lawyers of Weitz & Luxenberg have represented people affected by mesothelioma cancer for over 20 years. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease.

If you would like a free consultation or more information about your legal options, please complete the form on this page, and a representative of our law firm will contact you as soon as possible.