Other Asbestos Related Diseases
Mesothelioma is not the only disease that is caused by asbestos. There are a number of other diseases and conditions that have been linked to asbestos exposure. They include lung scarring, several types of cancer, and an increased risk of lung and heart problems.
Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma has sometimes been called ‘asbestos lung cancer’, but technically it is not a cancer of the lungs. It affects the tissues between the lungs and the chest cavity. Asbestos exposure is also related to an increased risk of developing lung cancer, however. In fact, heavy exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing lung cancer by a factor of five. A person who was exposed to asbestos at work or in the environment has a five times greater risk of developing lung cancer that a person who has no history of asbestos exposure.
In addition, asbestos exposure dramatically increases the risks of a smoker developing cancer. A person who smokes cigarettes has a ten times greater risk of developing lung cancer than a person who does not smoke. If that person also has a history of asbestos exposure, that risk shoots up to fifty times greater than a person who doesn’t smoke and wasn’t exposed to asbestos.
Like other conditions related to asbestos, the symptoms of asbestos related lung cancer may not develop for up to twenty years after exposure to asbestos. Anyone who was exposed to asbestos should be aware that they carry a heightened risk of developing lung cancer and should see a doctor if they experience any of the following:
- persistent cough
- a change in a cough that you have had for a long time
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- coughing up bloody phlegm
- ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- fatigue
- unexplained weight loss
- swelling in the neck
- difficulty swallowing
- pain or discomfort under the ribs on the right side
- pins and needles or numbness in fingers and toes
- muscle weakness
- dizziness and fatigue
- breast swelling in men
Other Cancers
Asbestos has also been implicated in an increased risk of a number of other cancers, typically those that affect organs in the digestive, excretory or respiratory system. These organs may be most affected because they are along the path of ‘entry’ for asbestos fibers, which most often are either inhaled or swallowed. While mesothelioma is the cancer that is most connected to asbestos exposure, it has also been implicated in
- cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, including cancer of the stomach
- cancer of the kidneys
- throat cancer
- colorectal cancer
- cancer of the esophagus
- cancer of the gall bladder
The connection to these other cancers is more tentative than the connection to lung cancer, but it has been noted in a number of studies.
Pleural Plaques
Pleural plaques are areas of scarring on the lungs. They are not always caused by asbestos, but asbestos is one of the known causes of pleural plaques. Pleural plaques are a non-malignant condition that may be mild or severe, depending on their size, the number of plaques and the position of the plaques.
Pleural plaques are the most common manifestation of asbestos exposure. They may be caused by intermittent, low, long-term exposure. The scar tissue may become calcified. They are most often discovered by accident on an X-ray, or through X-ray screening. They vary in size, and are often considered to be asymptomatic. However, depending on the number, size and location of the plaques, they may cause pain, shortness of breath or restricted lung function.
Pleural plaques usually require no treatment, but they are an indication of asbestos exposure, and should prompt the person on whom they are found to have regular screenings for other conditions related to asbestos exposure. They are not thought to be a precursor to other asbestos related conditions, but their presence is a warning sign that there has been enough asbestos exposure to cause damage to the lungs.
Pleural Fibrosis
Pleural fibrosis is also known as pleural thickening. It is the development of scar tissue in the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Pleural fibrosis typically develops about 15 years after brief, intense exposure to asbestos fibers. It is characterized by the development of thick, fibrous tissue on or around the lungs. The fibrous tissue may be just a slight milky discoloration on the lungs or a thick layer of tissue surrounding the entire lungs. Pleural fibrosis may cause few symptoms, even when there is widespread scarring on the lungs. However, fibrosis may be so severe that it restricts lung functioning and requires the removal of the pleura to free up the lungs.
Pleural Effusion
Pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluids in the area around the lungs. Pleural effusions are often related to mesothelioma, but fluid also may collect around the lungs when there is no cancer present. The collection of fluids can compress the lungs, making it more difficult to breathe and reducing lung function. Non-malignant pleural effusion often occurs earlier than other symptoms of asbestos-related lung damage, usually within fifteen years of first exposure. It is often seen in young men in their late twenties to thirties, and is considered to be the most common indicator of asbestos exposure in this age group.
The collection of fluid in the chest cavity can cause serious and painful symptoms. Those symptoms include fever, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and chest pain. Mild effusions may resolve themselves without treatment, or may require draining by a surgeon. In addition, a doctor may want to do a biopsy to rule out malignant mesothelioma or another condition.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a serious, non-cancerous respiratory disease that is caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. It takes years to develop, and often causes progressively worsening symptoms as scar tissue develops and immobilizes the lungs, preventing them from functioning properly. The symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry crackle when breathing, crippling chest pain and reduced lung function. In its later stages, asbestosis may cause heart failure.
Asbestos is incurable. It is usually disabling and often fatal.
