Exposure to asbestos in the course of work is an unfortunate reality for many Americans. Those who work in shipbuilding, mining, construction, and similar fields are at particular risk of asbestos exposure.
Most mesothelioma cases exceed $1 million dollars and are settled without going to court.
Asbestos exposure, which occurs when the airborne particles from asbestos are breathed in, can result in such debilitating and frequently fatal diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
The health effects of asbestos exposure usually don’t show up right away, so many workers find themselves with serious illnesses many years — even decades — after they were exposed.
Mesothelioma Detection and Diagnosis
To detect and diagnose mesothelioma, you and your doctor must be aware of the symptoms and risk factors. Symptoms normally do not develop for 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Many people are not even aware that they have been exposed. Further complicating the problem, mesothelioma symptoms are often mistaken for other illnesses.
Risk Factors
If you have worked in a high-risk job or industry or if you have lived with someone who was working in a high risk environment, you should request mesothelioma screening if you have any of the symptoms. High-risk work environments include:
- Construction
- Shipyards
- Mining
- Oil refineries
- Railroads
- Demolition
- Auto manufacturing and repair
- Small appliance manufacturing
Older homes and buildings are often a source of asbestos exposure.
Symptoms
According to the National Cancer Institute, symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses include:
- Shortness of breath
- A cough or a change in cough pattern
- Blood in the fluid coughed up from the lungs
- Pain in the chest or abdomen
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Prolonged hoarseness
- Significant weight loss
Mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as common, less harmful illnesses or health problems including:
- Cold
- Flu
- Pneumonia
- Broken ribs
- Laryngitis
Screening and Diagnosis
There are several steps to diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will start out by simply listening to your lungs with a stethoscope. He will be listening for the crackling and high pitch sounds common in asbestos related illness.
If a problem is suspected, you will need X-rays and a CT scan. X-rays can be useful, but they may not provide enough information. A CT scan is similar to an X-ray, but it gives a much more detailed 3-D picture. Many facilities are not equipped to perform CT scans, so your doctor may recommend an X-ray first to save you time, money, and travel.
Your doctor may also want to test your lung performance in a pulmonary function test (PFT). This will measure how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly they move the air in and out, and how much oxygen is transferred into your bloodstream.
Finally, if mesothelioma is still suspected, you will need a biopsy. In a biopsy a small piece of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope to see if it is cancerous. A biopsy is more invasive than the other tests, so your doctor will normally recommend it as a last step in diagnosis.
Types Of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the membrane that protects and lubricates your internal organs. Asbestos fibers are very sharp and tiny. They work their way into the mesothelium, and your immune system can’t get rid of them. There they shred the mesothelium and cause inflammation. Eventually this progresses into tumors and cancer.
There are several types of mesothelioma that can occur due to asbestos exposure. These are discussed in more detail below.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. It affects the mesothelium around your lungs called the pleura.
Many people confuse pleural mesothelioma with lung cancer. Because the symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades to appear, pleural mesothelioma is often initially misdiagnosed as:
- Cold
- Flu
- Laryngitis
- Pneumonia
- Whooping cough
- Broken or bruised ribs
Symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Rasping
- Persistent coughing
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fever
- Weight loss
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the protective lining of your abdominal cavity and internal organs, called the peritoneum. It is caused by ingesting asbestos fibers. In rare cases it affects an outpouching of the peritoneum that covers the scrotum causing tunica vaginalis testis which affects the testicles.
In cases of peritoneal mesothelioma, fluid quickly accumulates in the abdominal area causing swelling and abdominal pain. It can also cause shortness of breath and coughing. Symptoms include:
- Abdominal swelling
- Stomach pain
- Bowel obstruction
- Lower abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Chest pain
- Breathing problems
- Fever
- Anemia
- Blood clotting abnormalities
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the protective membrane around the heart. It is the least common of the three primary types of mesothelioma. By the time symptoms become noticeable the damage is usually irreparable.
Symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent coughing
- Heart palpitations
- Irregular heart beat
Treatment
All types of mesothelioma are fatal. There is no cure. Research has led to more effective treatments, and mesothelioma patients are living longer than ever when they receive the most advanced care. However, you must be in the early stages of the disease to be eligible for the most advanced treatments.
Mesothelioma is a very painful disease. Pain management is an essential part of treatment, and for some patients the only treatment. As the disease progresses the pain becomes more difficult to control and eventually no amount of medication can alleviate suffering.
Products Containing Asbestos
Asbestos is heat and fire resistant and it is very versatile. It has been used since the late 1800s. Some limits were placed on the manufacture of new products containing asbestos in the 1980s, but you would probably be surprised at how many items in your home today contain the deadly substance.
Asbestos has been used in over 3,000, or possibly over 5,000, products. At home you may be exposed to asbestos in building materials, common household items, small appliances, and auto parts.
Construction Materials
It would be impossible to list all of the construction materials that contain asbestos. It has found a wide variety of applications in construction because it can help prevent fires and contain heat. Construction and building materials that may be in your home, school, or workplace containing asbestos include:
- Acoustic/soundproofing material
- Acoustical panels
- Acoustical plaster
- Acoustical tile
- Adhesive material
- Asphalt flooring
- Attic insulation
- Blown-in insulation
- Boiler Insulation
- Boiler wall coat
- Bonding cement
- Cables
- Calcium silicate insulation
- Caulking material
- Ceiling tiles and lay-in panels
- Cement pipes
- Cement siding
- Cement wallboard
- Ceramic tile
- Construction mastics (floor tile, carpet, ceiling tile, etc.)
- Decorative plaster
- Electric ducts
- Electric wire insulation
- Electrical cloth
- Electrical panel partitions
- Elevator brake shoes
- Elevator equipment panels
- Fire doors
- Firebrick
- Flexible duct connectors
- Flooring
- Flooring backing
- Furnace cement
- Heating ducts
- HVAC duct insulation
- Joint compounds
- Masonry fill
- Paint
- Pipe insulation
- Roofing felt
- Sheetrock
- Shingles
- Spackling products
- Spray-on insulation
- Textured paints/coatings
- Tile ductwork
- Vinyl flooring
- Vinyl wall coverings
Household Items
Asbestos is often found in small appliances, especially older ones. You may own items that contain asbestos and never become exposed as long as the item stays intact and the asbestos remains sealed off. On the other hand, people have been exposed to asbestos by their hair dryers literally blowing asbestos fibers in their faces. Household items and appliances which can contain asbestos include:
- Chalkboards
- Cigarette filters
- Corkboard
- Fake snow
- Generators
- Hair dryer
- Ironing board
- Oven mitts
- Packing materials
- Potting soil
- Rope
- Table tops
- Talc powder
- Tape
- Textiles
- Toaster
- Welding rods
- Yarn
Automotive
The automotive industry uses asbestos for many parts. People who work in automotive manufacture and repair are at an elevated risk for exposure, but if you work on your own vehicle, you can be exposed, too. These items are safe until they wear down or deteriorate, releasing the fibers. Auto parts that can contain asbestos include:
- Automobile hood liners
- Brake pads
- Clutches
- Gaskets
Fire Safety
Some industries need heavy-duty fire safety equipment. Working with high temperatures and fire is an inherent part of certain jobs. Some of the commercial applications of asbestos include fire blankets, fire suits, and laboratory gloves.
Asbestos Job Sites In Alabama
Workplaces, especially those associated with heavy industry, too often have not done enough to prevent workers from being exposed to asbestos. Long & Long is a personal injury law firm committed to representing people with mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Alabama and their families.
Asbestos-related conditions such as lung cancer and mesothelioma can be devastating to Alabama families, and we are dedicated to helping Alabama workers and their families receive fair compensation for workplace asbestos exposure.
- Alexander City
- Russell Foundry
- Andalusia
- Gant Power
- Anniston
- Monsanto Chemical Plant
- Anniston Army Depot
- Alabama Pipe Company
- Athens
- Bellefonte Nuclear Plant
- Colbert Steam Plant
- Wheeler Dam
- Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant
- Attalla
- Pioneer Fabricating Shop
- Axis
- Courtaulds Chemical Plant
- Shell Chemical Plant
- Halby Chemical
- Shell Refinery
- Barry Steam Plant
- Stauffer (Lemoyne) Chemical Plant
- Barton
- Colbert Steam Plant
- Bay Minette
- Newport/Tenneco/Reichold Plant
- Bessemer
- U.S. Pipe Plant
- Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing
- Stockholm Valve
- Hercules Powder (Explosives) “Birmingham” Chemical Plant
- Sloss Sheffield Steel & Iron
- Woodward Iron
- U.S. Steel Mill
- Birmingham
- Hayes International Shop
- Caldwell Foundry
- Montclair Hospital
- Alabama Power Office Building
- University Hospital
- Montclair Baptist Hospital
- Badham Insulation Co. Warehouse
- Avondale Chemical Plant
- AT&T Office
- Daniel Building
- Jefferson Iron & Metal
- Clow Pipe Plant
- Alabama Power Plant
- Pullman Standard
- Pemco Aeroplex, Inc.
- Reynolds Aluminum
- Chicago Bridge & Iron Fabricating Plant
- ACIPCO
- Princeton Hospital
- Avondale Mills
- Stockholm Valve
- L & N Railroad
- Empire Building
- Ingalls Iron Works 2nd Shipbuilding
- Airco
- Republic Steel Mill
- U.S. Pipe And Foundry
- Jefferson Foundry
- Old Alabama Power Building
- Woodward/Iron Koppers
- Southern Railroad
- Goslin Foundry
- Badham Insulation Shop
- Tutwiler Hotel
- Mcwane Iron
- Republic Steel
- Sloss Furnaces
- Tennessee Coal Iron & Railroad Co.
- Gorgas Steam Plant
- Woodward Iron/ Koppers
- Western Grain Feed Plant
- Hayes International Corporation
- Alabama By‐Products Co. (ABC) Foundry
- North Brothers Warehouse
- Shook & Fletcher Warehouse
- Ingalls Steel Construction Company
- U.S. Steel
- Continental Gin Company
- L & N Division Office
- American Cast Iron Pipe Co. (ACIPCO) Pipe Plant
- Southern Railroad Warehouse
- First National (Southern Natural Gas) Building
- Brewton
- American Container Paper Mill
- Container Corporation Paper Mill
- Continental Can Paper Mill
- International Paper Mill
- James River Paper Mill
- Brewton Paper Mill
- Bridgeport
- Widows Creek Steam Plant
- Bruton
- Stone Container Paper Mill
- Bucks
- Stauffer Chemical (Lemoyne) Plant
- Barry Steam Plant
- Ingalls Iron Works
- Butler
- James River Paper Mill
- Continental Can Paper Mill
- American Can Paper Mill
- James River/American Can/Marathon Paper Mill
- Camden
- International Paper Mill
- Chapman
- Union Camp Saw Mill
- Cherokee
- Colbert Steam Plant
- Armour/La Roche/Us Agriculture Chemical Plant
- Chickasaw
- Gulf Shipyard
- Warrior & Gulf Shipyard
- Union Carbide Chemical Plant
- Childersburg
- Alabama Ordinance Works
- Wilsonville Steam Plant
- Beaunit “Knitting” Rayon (Coosa Pines) Textile Mill
- Dupont Powder Plant
- Coosa River Newsprint, aka Kimberly Clark Paper Mill
- Cottonton
- Green County Steam Plant
- Mead Paper Co.
- Courtland
- Wheeler Dam
- Champion Papermill
- Cumberland City
- Cumberland Steam Plant
- Decatur
- Brown Ferry Nuclear Plant
- Ingalls Shipyard
- Air Pro
- Wheeler Dam
- Dow Corning Fibreglass
- Amoco Chemical Plant
- Wolverine Tube
- 3M Chemical Plant
- Amoco
- Chemstrand/Monsanto Chemical Plant
- American Oil Refinery (Amoco)
- Trinity Substation (TVA)
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant
- Airco Plant
- Brown’s Ferry Nuclear Plant
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant
- Ingalls Barge Works Repair Yard
- Decatur Substation (TVA)
- Wolverine Copper Tube Plant
- Freuhauf Trailer Smelting Plant
- Fluor Daniel
- Demopolis
- Green County Paper Mill
- Gulf States Paper Mill
- Union Bag Paper Mill
- Green County Steam Plant
- Ensley
- Butler Manufacturing
- U.S. Steel Mill
- Fairfield
- Allied‐Celotex‐Barrett‐Jim Walters Roof Materials Plant
- Fairfield Steel Works
- Alabama By‐Products Co. (Abc) Foundry
- Tennessee Coal & Iron
- Flomaton
- Humble Oil Field
- Florence
- Knit Kote Textile Mill
- Weyerhauser Paper Mill
- Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital
- Reynolds Aluminum Plant
- Wilson Dam
- ECM Hospital
- <Gadsden
- Coosa Pipe & Foundry
- Republic Steel ‐ General Labor Pool
- Republic Steel/Gulf States Steel/LTV Steel
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant
- Gadsden Steam Plant
- Gulf States Steel
- Alabama Power Plant
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant
- Bellefonte Nuclear Powerhouse
- Gant
- Gant Power Plant
- Gnatt
- Gnatt Powerhouse
- Gorgas
- Gorgas Steam Plant
- Grant
- Alabama Electrical Corp.
- Green County
- Green County Steam Plant
- Guin
- 3M Chemical Plant
- Hollywood
- Bellefonte Nuclear Plant
- Holt
- Central Foundry Co.
- Huntsville
- 5400 Building
- Automatic Electric Electronics Plant
- Union Carbide Chemical Plant
- Redstone Arsenal
- Alabama College
- Huntsville High School
- Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) Chemical Plant
- Marshall Space Flight Center
- Huntsville City Schools
- Thiokol Chemical
- Jackson
- Allied/Boise Cascade Paper Mill
- Jacksonville
- Jacksonville State University
- Ketona
- Ketona Chemical Plant
- Lanett
- West Point Pepperill Textile Mill
- Leeds
- Rockwool Plant
- Lemoyne
- Shell Chemical Plant
- Listerhill
- Reynolds Alloys Plant
- Reynolds Metals Plant
- Livingston
- Livingston State Teachers College
- Livingston University
- Mcintosh
- Olin Mathieson Chemical Plant
- Ciba‐Geigy Chemical Plant
- Midland City
- Midland City Elementary School
- Mobile
- Virginia Chemical Plant
- Turner Lumber Mill
- Bemis Bag Paper Mill
- Mobile Infirmary
- Bender Shipbuilding & Repair
- First National Bank Building
- Smith & Kelly Brick Plant
- Ruberoid Plant
- Marine Specialty Store
- Mobile Airport
- Ideal Cement Plant
- Diamond Shamrock Chemical Plant
- Aluminum Ore Plant
- Alabama State Docks
- Ideal Cement
- Little Big Horn
- Scott Paper & Wood Yard
- Aluminum Ore Powerhouse
- Waterman’s Shipyard
- Marine Specialties
- Scott Papermill
- Marathon Oil Refinery
- Alabama Power Office Building
- Sanders Cotton Mill
- Ruberoid Roof Shingle Plant
- Ingalls Shipyard
- Doctors Hospital
- Scott Paper Credit Union
- Smith Kelly Supply Company
- Eagle Chemical Plant
- Alabama Power Plant
- Bender Welding & Metal Shop
- Diamond Head Chemcial Plant
- Bell Telephone Building (s)
- St. Regis Paper Mill
- Gulf States Paper Mill
- Atlas Marine Shipyard
- Gulf Shipyard
- Mobile Pulley & Machine Works
- Shook & Fletcher
- Brookley Field
- Mobile Pulley Works
- Westinghouse Electric Shop
- Alabama Dry Dock (Addsco) Shipyard
- National Gypsum Plant
- Mobile Linen
- Brookley Air Force Base
- Brookley Field Warehouse (s)
- Hollingsworth/Whitney Paper Mill (N/K/A Scott Paper Mill)
- Gulf Lumber Mill
- American Cyanamid Chemical Plant
- Warrior & Gulf Shipyard
- GAF Plant
- ALCOA Aluminum Plant
- Alabama Power & Light
- Union Carbide Chemical Plant
- Gulf Electric Co. Shop
- Alabama Power Company
- Ruberoid/GAF Manufacturing Plant
- Shell Chemical
- International Paper Mill
- Marine Junk Co., Inc.
- Mobile Infirmary Hospital
- Waterman Building
- Turner Supply Co.
- Stauffer Chemical Plant
- Standard Oil Refinery
- Mobile Ship Repair (A/K/A Gulf Shipyard)
- Courtaulds Fibers
- Gulf Development Company, Inc.
- Monroeville
- Vanity Fair Mills
- Georgia Pacific Paper Mill
- Montevallo
- U.S. Gypsum Mine
- Montevallo College
- Westinghouse Plant
- Montgomery
- Brockway Glass
- Maxwell Air Force Base
- Mount Vernon
- Mobile River Saw Mill
- Muscle Shoals
- Muscle Shoals Rubber Company
- Wilson Dam
- Opelika
- Pepperell Mills
- Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Ingall’s Ship Building
- Pell City
- Avondale Mills Textile Mill
- Pennington
- James River/American Can/Marathon Paper Mill
- Pine Hill
- Mcmillian Bloedel Paper Mill
- Pratt City
- Tennessee Coal And Iron And Railroad Company
- Prattville
- Union Camp Paper Mill
- Prichard
- Gulf Lumber Company
- Barnett Mill
- Ragland
- National Cement Plant
- Rogersville
- Wheeler Dam
- Russellville
- U.S. Reduction Plant
- Selma
- Craig Air Force Base
- Hammermill/International Paper Mill
- Vaughn Medical Center
- Southern Natural Gas Compressor Station
- Sheffield
- Reynolds Metals Plant
- Reynolds Alloys Plant
- TVA Phosphate Chemical Plant
- Wilson Steam Plant
- Wheeler Dam
- TVA Power Service Shop
- Wilson Dam
- B.C. Fertilizer Plant
- Nitrate Plant
- TVA Nitrate Plant
- TVA Fossil Fuel Plant
- TVA Watershed Property
- TVA Phosphate Development Works Nerve Gas Plant
- TVA Service Shop
- Wilson Dam Hydro Plant
- Diamond Shamrock/Occidental Alkalai
- TVA Nerve Gas Plant
- Wilson Dam Steam Plant
- Union Carbide Metallurgical Plant
- Wheeler Dam Power Plant
- 1st Methodist Church
- Reynolds Credit Union
- Muscle Shoals Rubber Plant
- TVA Ammonia Nitrate Plant
- TVA Office Building
- TVA Nitrate Plant #2
- Reynolite Plant aka Sheffield Can Plant
- TVA Gasification Plant
- Reynolds Reclamation Plant
- TVA Power Plant
- Wheeler Dam Steam Plant
- TVA Sheffield Garage
- TVA Pwd Chemical Plant
- TVA Fertilizer Chemical Plant
- TVA Water Plant
- TVA P.D.W. Plant
- Ford Motor Plant
- Steele
- Culp Smelting & Refining
- Stevenson
- Widow’s Creek Power Plant
- Meade Paper Mill
- Sylacauga
- Avondale Mills Textile Mill
- Talladega
- Talladega College
- Tarrant City
- Alabama By‐Products Co. (Abc)
- Theodore
- Degussa Chemical Plant
- Thomasville
- Stutts Saw Mill
- Cogle Lumber Mill
- Tuscaloosa
- Gulf States Paper Mill
- Cole Supply Company, Inc.
- University Of Alabama
- Reichold Chemical Plant
- B.F. Goodrich Plant
- Alabama Binder & Chemical Corporation
- Hunt Oil Refinery
- Central Supply Company, Inc.
- Tuscumbia
- Robbins Tire & Rubber Plant
- Colbert Steam Plant
- Tuskegee
- Veterans’ Administration Hospital
- Watson
- Dupont Powder Plant
- West Jefferson
- Miller Steam Plant
- Wheeler Dam
- Wheeler Dam
- Wilson Dam
- Wilson Dam
- Wilsonville
- Southern Electric Generating (SEGCO) Power Plant
- Gaston Steam Plant/Wilsonville Steam Plant
- Woodward
- Woodward Iron
- Koppers Plant
Mesothelioma Support
Mesothelioma is an extremely painful, fatal, incurable disease. It progresses quickly after symptoms appear and most patients are told that they have less than a year to live. The treatments themselves are harsh and painful. Effective pain management and the support of friends and family can significantly increase the effectiveness of treatment.
Facing a painful death in the near future, preceded by deteriorating health and the likelihood of spending several months physically incapacitated, is terrifying. Watching someone you love deteriorate and die from mesothelioma is devastating. Caring for someone with mesothelioma is emotionally and physically draining. On top of the fear, pain, and depression, many people and their families are consumed with anger, knowing that this didn’t have to happen. Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones owe it to themselves to seek the support and knowledge of others who have experience with the disease.
Why You Need a Mesothelioma Support Group
Support groups can teach you coping skills to help you face the emotional pain. They can also teach you how to deal with the physical issues which will arise. Participating in support groups will keep you abreast of the latest research and treatments. Patients who participate in support groups have a better survival rate and enjoy a better quality of life.
Mesothelioma patients need the love and support of friends and family more than anything else. However, support groups made up of other patients can provide insights and understanding that only other patients can deliver. Mesothelioma robs you of your independence, and patients often feel like they are a burden on their loved ones, not wanting to ask for all of the support they really need.
Loved Ones Need Support, Too
Caring for or watching someone battle with cancer can be as difficult emotionally for loved ones as having the disease is for the patient. Loved ones and care givers often face the duel emotional struggle of watching a loved one suffer and disintegrate before their eyes, while trying to stay strong and put on a cheerful face for the dying person. Special support groups exist just for loved ones, care givers, and even children of mesothelioma patients.
Types of Mesothelioma Support Groups
There are many types of support groups to choose from, giving you the opportunity to participate in the way that will benefit you the most. The traditional form involves in-person meetings, typically once a week or once a month. These provide the most support, but as your illness progresses may become difficult or impossible to attend. For those who live in rural areas and for those who are homebound, online and email groups make support available at your convenience, and can point you to a wealth of information.
Finding Mesothelioma Support
Most support groups do not charge a fee to participate. Mesothelioma treatment centers, cancer treatment centers, local healthcare organizations, and even churches can help you find support groups in your area. Ask your doctor about support options in your area.
Questions about Mesothelioma
Is mesothelioma fatal?
Yes. Most people diagnosed with mesothelioma are told they have less than a year to live. Early detection and treatment by mesothelioma specialists can greatly improve your odds. Five year survival rates are increasing.
Is there a cure?
No. When mesothelioma is detected early, your chances of living longer are increased. In a few, rare cases, with early treatment surgery can remove most of the cancerous cells. Mesothelioma is very painful, and pain management typically makes up a large portion of treatment.
Is mesothelioma contagious?
No, you cannot transmit the disease to someone else. Anyone who lived with you when you were exposed to asbestos could have been exposed to the asbestos brought home in your clothing, meaning they may also have mesothelioma and should be tested.
Who can get mesothelioma?
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos can develop mesothelioma. It has been theorized that just one asbestos fiber inhaled, can lead to mesothelioma. There are thousands of products containing asbestos, many of which we have in our homes today. People who work with asbestos and products that contain asbestos are at the highest risk.
It has been years since I worked around asbestos, and I haven’t had any symptoms until now. Could I have mesothelioma?
Yes, it normally takes at least 10 years after asbestos exposure to develop mesothelioma symptoms and can take up to 50 years. Once the symptoms start, the disease progresses rapidly.
Does asbestos exposure cause any other illnesses?
Yes. Asbestos exposure can cause:
- Asbestosis
- Asbestos pleural disease
- Heart failure
- Kidney cancer
- Larynx cancer
- Lung cancer
- Other cancers
I am a smoker. Is that why I developed mesothelioma? Does it make me ineligible for compensation?
Absolutely not. Smoking does not cause mesothelioma or asbestosis. Both are caused by asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma is not lung cancer, it is cancer of the lining around the lungs. Smoking does increase your risk of developing lung cancer, but lung cancer can be caused by asbestos exposure alone. Smokers have the same right to compensation for their injuries as non-smokers in asbestos related illness cases.
If you believe that you’ve become ill because of asbestos exposure in the workplace, call (251) 432-2277 or email The Long Brothers today for your free consultation. Find out how we can help you get the compensation you need.
