Types of Cancer Caused by Asbestos Exposure

Any cancer diagnosis can be a terrifying, life-altering event. If you discover that your condition was caused by exposure to asbestos, you have every right to demand accountability from the party responsible for your illness. Tragically, thousands of Americans face this reality each year when doctors diagnose them with asbestos-related cancers, such as mesothelioma.

If you developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related cancer due to exposure, you could be owed compensation if another person or corporate entity was to blame. With the help of an experienced attorney, you could file an injury claim or lawsuit against the responsible party, which could provide vital compensation to pay for your medical care and provide financial stability during this difficult time.

At Ward Black Law, our respected attorneys have over 40 years of experience working with victims of asbestos exposure, both within North Carolina and in cases where the exposure occurred across the country. Contact us today for a free initial consultation to learn how we can help you pursue the recovery you deserve, no matter where your exposure happened.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a type of naturally occurring mineral fiber. Natural asbestos deposits are located throughout the western portions of North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains.

Asbestos fibers are lightweight, durable, and naturally fire-resistant, making asbestos an effective insulator. For decades, asbestos was widely used across many industries, most notably the textile and construction industries.

Evidence began to emerge as early as the 1910s that asbestos exposure may be harmful to health. By the 1930s and ’40s, companies and independent researchers began reporting potential connections between asbestos and certain cancers. But, due to corporate lobbying and marketing efforts, many industries continued to use asbestos for various applications until the late 1980s. Today, the U.S. is one of the few industrialized countries with no formal asbestos ban.

Due to asbestos’s continued use, millions of Americans have been exposed to known carcinogens for years. Mesothelioma and other common asbestos-related diseases often take decades to develop. As a result, victims can face an uphill battle in demonstrating a clear link between prior asbestos exposure and their current conditions.

Common Occupations and Industries Linked to Asbestos Exposure

Workers in the following industries tend to have high rates of asbestos exposure:

Types of Cancer Caused by Asbestos Exposure

Because the body does not break down asbestos, the fibers can linger for years or even decades, slowly causing internal damage that may eventually lead to cancer. Common types of cancer due to asbestos exposure include:

• Pleural mesothelioma – This cancer affects the lining of the lungs. It is the most common form of mesothelioma, an aggressive disease almost exclusively linked with asbestos exposure. Roughly 80 to 90 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pleural mesothelioma.
• Peritoneal mesothelioma – The second-most common form of mesothelioma, accounting for roughly 15 percent of all diagnosed cases, affects the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum.
• Pericardial mesothelioma – This cancer affects the lining of the heart. This rare form of mesothelioma occurs in fewer than 50 people each year, representing just one percent of all mesothelioma diagnoses.
• Testicular mesothelioma – The rarest form of mesothelioma, with only about 100 cases recorded in medical literature, affects the lining of the testes and has a high recurrence rate.
• Lung cancer – Asbestos-related lung cancer is different from mesothelioma because the cancerous tissue forms inside the lungs rather than in the lining of the lungs. When microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled, they become lodged in the soft tissue of the lungs and eventually cause enough inflammation to turn healthy lung cells into cancerous ones.
• Small cell lung cancer – This is a particularly malignant form of lung cancer made up of small, round cells that are difficult to treat with surgery. Small cell lung cancer has a substantially lower survival rate than non-small cell lung cancer.
• Ovarian cancer – Studies have linked occupational and secondhand asbestos exposure in women to ovarian cancer, which affects one or both ovaries, and the female reproductive organs. Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer-related death among women over 35.
• Colorectal cancer – Also called colon cancer, this form of cancer affects the large intestine. It is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death among men and the third-leading cause of cancer-related death among women. Exposure to amphibole asbestos, which is composed of needle-like fibers, is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer.
• Laryngeal cancer – This is a relatively rare type of throat cancer that affects the larynx or “voice box.” The leading risk factors for laryngeal cancer are smoking and excessive drinking, but studies suggest asbestos exposure also increases the risk of developing laryngeal cancer by roughly 40 percent.
• Esophageal cancer – This occurs in the esophagus, the hollow, muscular tube connecting the throat to the stomach. Studies suggest that occupational asbestos exposure is associated with an increased risk for esophageal cancer, and the risk of mortality from esophageal cancer increases in proportion to high-level asbestos exposure.

How the Experienced Asbestos Attorneys at Ward Black Law Can Help

Asbestos exposure lawsuits tend to be complicated. The long gap between exposure and noticeable symptoms often makes it challenging to draw a clear connection between your case and the other party’s negligence. But, the award-winning legal team at Ward Black Law can help you demand a fair recovery by:

• Explaining your options and providing dependable legal advice
• Investigating potential sources of direct or second-hand asbestos exposure
• Obtaining employment records or affidavits proving your past employment in locations with confirmed asbestos presence
• Obtaining company documents suggesting that your employer knew or should have known about the presence and dangers of asbestos
• Obtaining testimony from co-workers, family members, or other witnesses who can confirm your asbestos exposure
• Obtaining statements from physicians or other experts who can demonstrate a causal link between your exposure to asbestos and your current condition
• Negotiating aggressively on your behalf to maximize your compensation
• Representing you in court if the other party refuses to agree to a fair settlement