Asbestos Lung Cancer

Most people would probably point to tobacco smoking as the precursor of lung cancer but there are other potential causes of the deadly disease, such as exposure to asbestos.

Although a small amount of contact with asbestos fibres is not considered to be too risky in terms of lung cancer, prolonged contact at a high concentration and frequency is deemed to be extremely dangerous. Add tobacco smoking to the equation and the probability of developing lung cancer increases again.

Lung cancer is a serious illness resulting in damaged lung tissues following a period of uncontrolled cell growth. Most cases of asbestos-related lung cancer begin in the lining of the bronchi, which are the tubes into which the windpipe splits. But lung cancer can also start out in the windpipe, in the lung air sacs (alveoli) or in the small arms of the bronchi known as the bronchioles.

There are two main kinds of lung cancer – small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The former is much more prevalent but there are also instances of a third kind which is a mix of SCLC and NSCLC.

Symptoms

With lung cancer there are often no symptoms in the early days and this can make diagnosis almost impossible. However chest pain, relentless coughing, weight loss, red-coloured phlegm and hoarseness are all symptoms that could be experienced in the initial stages of lung cancer.

Diagnosis

The usual pattern of diagnosis starts with a physical examination and often a sample of a patient’s spit will be taken for analysis. Cancer cells can also be detected by examining a patient’s tissues following a biopsy. X-rays and various sorts of scan can be useful in assessing the exact location and spread of the disease.

Treatment

Treatment options hinge on several aspects including the type of lung cancer, patient preference, patient health as well as the position, size and spread of the tumour. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy are all plausible but the main aim of treatment is to promote a life that is as long and as enjoyable as possible.

Because asbestos lung cancer deaths are not discernible from smoking lung cancer deaths, there are no definite death toll figures available. However according to research by Andrew J. Darnton & Co, asbestos exposure was responsible for around 2 or 3% of all UK male lung cancer deaths during the 80s and 90s.

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