The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, International Agency for Research on Cancer and the EPA have categorized Asbestos as a human carcinogen- a material or fiber which leads to the development of cancerous cells in the body.
According to studies and research, continuous exposure to the particles will lead to Mesothelioma and lung cancer. While both these forms of cancer will be found in the body after intense exposure to the material, many journals say that lung cancer can also develop in the body after a short exposure period.
Those who are exposed to asbestos first suffer from Asbestosis because they will have inhaled high levels of the material. The worst part of this type of lung cancer is that the symptoms are not unique which make it difficult to find it in the initial stages.
Statistics reveal that the disease is usually picked up by tests in the last stage which is at least 20 years after the initial exposure to the material.
The rate of lung cancer caused by Asbestos reached its peak during the 20th century and it was discovered that these individuals had been first exposed to the fibers decades in the past.
Archives tell us that British workers were the first among those working around asbestos to get diagnosed with asbestos related lung cancer. This type of lung cancer first develops in the lining or membrane around the bronchi. However, cancerous cells can also be found in the bronchioles, alveoli or trachea.
While this cancer stays inactive in the body for 20 years, the cells tend to leave the original organ and travel to other vital organs in the body. Asbestos is considered to be the principle cause of lung cancer and this fact has been recognized for a number of years now.
Even though statistics related to the number of deaths caused by lung cancer are readily available, it becomes difficult to conclude how many of these are asbestos related. This is because lung cancer can be caused by smoking as well and lung cancer caused by smoking and that caused by asbestos are said to be clinically identical.
According to a study, those individuals who work around asbestos and smoke on a regular basis are 90% more likely to contract the disease. Symptoms include chronic breathing problems, chest pains, severe bouts of coughing and anemia.
The treatment options related to asbestos related lung cancer include Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Radiation, surgery, Thoracoscopy, etc. While surgery includes the removal of the lung, radiation is usually carried out to remove certain obstructions in the way of blood vessels as cancer cells that cause lung cancer do not get affected by radiation. On the other hand, chemotherapy will prevent these cells from multiplying and traveling to other vital organs. Thoracoscopy involves the insertion of tube into the patient’s body to view the tumor properly. After a biopsy, that is, after obtaining a sample of the tissue, the damaging fluid can be drained from the body.