Asbestos-Related Diseases
Asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, asbestosis, and asbestos disease have been documented for centuries. Potential asbestos symptoms were documented in the 1st century A.D. when Roman historian Pliny the Elder noted that asbestos miners died younger than other slaves.
In the modern era, the first recorded cases of asbestos-related diseases in the United States were diagnosed in 1935. Asbestos exposure has since been medically linked to a number of asbestos-related diseases and conditions, including:
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Mesothelioma: This asbestos-related disease is a rare and often fatal form of cancer affecting the lining of the chest, lungs, heart and abdomen.
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Asbestosis: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says this asbestos-related disease of the lungs is caused “by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate lung tissues and cause the tissues to scar. The scarring makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood.”
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Lung Cancer: Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos are five times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who have not been exposed. If those individuals are also smokers, the risk is even greater.
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Gastrointestinal Cancer: This asbestos-related disease is a rare but serious cancer. In the earlier stages, asbestos-related gastrointestinal cancer has no obvious symptoms, but symptoms may develop as the disease progresses and include diarrhea, shortness of breath, wheezing and a pain or feeling of fullness in the abdomen.
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Laryngeal Cancer: When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may become lodged in the larynx. This triggers the body’s immune response and white blood cells attack the fibers, resulting in inflammation and scarring.
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Pharyngeal Cancer: Pharyngeal cancer typically grows silently, showing no symptoms until the disease has reached advanced stages. Symptoms of this asbestos-related disease include sore throat, coughing, trouble swallowing, and ear pain.
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Esophageal Cancer: Symptoms of this asbestos-related disease can include difficulty swallowing, weight loss, throat pain, hoarseness, and vomiting.
Asbestos-related diseases can progress rapidly so patients may require a great deal of mesothelioma support from friends and family. You can find mesothelioma help and resources at Mesothelioma Help Now.
Asbestos-Related Diseases: Contacting an Asbestos Attorney
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may want to speak with an asbestos attorney to potentially move forward with a lawsuit against those whose actions led to your dangerous asbestos exposure.