Asbestos Lung Cancer

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What Is Asbestos Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. While it has many possible causes (notably smoking cigarettes), thousands of people develop lung cancer every year because of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a highly durable mineral that was once used in many products like construction materials and vehicle parts. Today, it is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). The dangers of asbestos were hidden for decades by corporations that made and profited from asbestos products.

U.S. veterans have a higher-than-average risk of lung cancer from asbestos, as the military used asbestos for decades in bases, vehicles, ships, and other products. Asbestos was favored by the military because it was cheap, flame-resistant, and thought to be safe.

Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes the dangers of asbestos. Veterans with asbestos lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases may qualify for VA benefits like monthly payouts and medical care. File for VA benefits for asbestos lung cancer right now.

How Does Asbestos Cause Lung Cancer?

If asbestos-based products are damaged or wear out, they release tiny fibers into the air. People nearby can inhale asbestos fibers into their lungs. The fibers never leave the body and burrow into lung tissue, damaging the cells. This can eventually turn healthy cells into cancerous ones.

It often takes 10-50 years for asbestos to trigger the growth of cancerous tumors.

U.S. veterans who served as military shipyard workers or boiler tenders are at risk of getting sick as they worked with asbestos every day for months or even years.

Veterans also have an increased risk of lung cancer caused by asbestos if they smoke or smoked in the past. A recent study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggested that asbestos amplifies the lung damage caused by smoking cigarettes.

“Many studies have shown that the combination of tobacco smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. However, there is also evidence that quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers.”

— National Cancer Institute

Lung Cancer vs. Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure doesn’t always cause lung cancer — there are a number of asbestos-related diseases someone can be diagnosed with. One of the most notable is mesothelioma.

Unlike lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma tumors can develop in the lining of the lungs (pleura), abdomen (peritoneum), testes (tunica vaginalis), or heart (pericardium). Mesothelioma tumors do not start in the lungs themselves.

Further, asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma — smoking is not a known cause or risk factor. However, both asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma can be deadly without treatment.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

According to the American Lung Association (ALA), the symptoms of lung cancer can vary with each patient.

That said, common symptoms of lung cancer include:

• Appetite loss
• Chronic cough
• Extreme weight loss
• Pleural effusion (buildup of fluid in the lung lining)
• Shortness of breath

Many asbestos-related diseases share similar symptoms, but without prompt diagnosis and treatment, lung cancer symptoms can quickly worsen due to cancer spread.

Diagnosing Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos

To diagnose lung cancer, your doctor will first gather basic facts about your health and your symptoms. From there, they will perform imaging scans of your chest cavity and lungs to look for cancerous tumors.

Imaging scans used to help diagnose lung cancer include chest X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and PET scans.

Imaging scans can also identify other pleural diseases — such as pleural plaques or pleural thickening (a painful inflammation of the lung lining) — that may mean someone has been exposed to asbestos.

If a doctor finds a potentially cancerous tumor using these tests, they’ll likely perform a biopsy, which involves extracting a fluid or tissue sample. A biopsy is the only way to confirm that someone has lung cancer.

Doctors often use a bronchoscopy to take a biopsy. During this procedure, doctors insert a small tube down the throat and into the lungs where a tiny sample is then removed. The patient is under anesthesia during this time. Doctors then send the sample off to a lab to have it analyzed for cancer.

Prognosis for Asbestos Lung Cancer

If a biopsy confirms the presence of lung cancer, doctors can then offer a prognosis (expected health outcome). Lung cancer has a generally poor prognosis whether it's caused by asbestos or not.

• A study from Cancer Science found that asbestos lung cancer patients had a life expectancy of 17.4 months.
• The average 5-year survival rate for lung cancer caused by asbestos was 25% in the same study.
• As of November 2022, the overall 5-year survival rate for lung cancer was just 18.6%, according to the ALA.

Rough estimates show that 130,000 to 160,000 people died of asbestos-related lung cancer over a 15-year period, according to data analyzed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Thankfully, a prognosis is not set in stone. With proper health care and treatments, patients may be able to outlive an initially poor prognosis.

Treatment for Asbestos Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is not curable, but treatments may help extend your lifespan and decrease your pain.

Notable lung cancer treatment options include:

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancerous cells.
• Radiation therapy: Doctors use high-energy X-rays to shrink tumors.
• Surgery: Doctors remove cancerous tumors and some or all of the affected lung.
• Targeted therapy: The patient is given medications to prevent cancer cells from spreading.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses drugs to stimulate the body's immune system to target and kill cancerous cells.
• Clinical trials: Through a clinical trial, patients may be able to access new treatments currently being studied.

"Choosing the treatment that is right for you may be hard. Talk to your [lung cancer] doctor about the treatment options available for your type and stage of cancer." 

— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. veterans may be able to access free or low-cost asbestos lung cancer treatments if they have VA health care.

VA Benefits & Compensation for Asbestos Lung Cancer

U.S. veterans suffering from asbestos lung cancer can pursue medical care, military benefits, and private forms of financial compensation. Learn more about each of these below.

VA Benefits

VA benefits allow eligible veterans with asbestos-related lung cancer to receive monthly compensation to help cover caregiving expenses and other bills. Medical treatment from top doctors is also available through the VA health care system.

Additionally, families can pursue survivor benefits to help them stay financially secure if a veteran passed away from lung cancer.

VA benefits are also available for other asbestos-related diseases. For example, the VA has granted benefits to veterans with asbestosis (a noncancerous disease that impairs breathing) and pleural plaques (a buildup of protein in the lung lining).

File for VA benefits today with help from U.S. veteran and VA-accredited attorney Eric Hall.

Compensation Claims

Through a private asbestos lung cancer claim, veterans may be able to receive more compensation than they would from VA benefits alone. Compensation claims allow veterans to get compensation from the makers of asbestos-based products.

Compensation can help pay for lung cancer treatments and keep your family financially stable for years to come. No action is taken against any branch of the U.S. military, and you can still file for VA benefits even if you file a private claim.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Many makers of asbestos-based products filed for bankruptcy to avoid costly lawsuits. In response, the U.S. government forced these companies to set aside money in asbestos trust funds for current and future victims.

Today, U.S. veterans with asbestos lung cancer may be able to file a trust fund claim and receive compensation. Asbestos trust funds currently contain an estimated $30 billion. Filing a claim won't impact a veteran's ability to file for VA benefits.

Next Steps for Veterans With Asbestos Lung Cancer

Asbestos and lung cancer are forever linked due to the widespread use of this deadly substance before the 1980s.

If you or a loved one suffers from asbestos-related lung cancer or mesothelioma after military service, you can pursue financial aid and medical benefits. Both of these can help you adjust to life after a diagnosis and start the healing process.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center knows the sacrifices that veterans made and stands prepared to help those who need it. File a VA claim now with our help to get the military benefits that you deserve.