National Cancer Prevention Month: Avoid Asbestos to Prevent Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
National Cancer Prevention Month is ending, but this does not mean that you can pretend that cancer is not an issue. Different lifestyle changes like exercising, eating more fruits and vegetables, protecting yourself from the sun, and avoiding carcinogenic substances need to be maintained to ensure your health. Carcinogens like asbestos and cigarette smoke should be avoided, which could help prevent lung cancer and mesothelioma. If you quit smoking, you can reduce your risks of developing cancer and if you do not smoke, continuing to not smoke greatly reduces your risk of developing lung cancer.
Lung cancer is also caused by asbestos. Asbestos is a group of six fibrous silicate minerals that was used for its many industrial applications. It was used as insulation because it is fireproof and resists heat very well. It can also be sewn into fabrics, allowing people to wear clothing that protected them from heat and fire, but endangered their lives when wearing it. Movement and agitation of asbestos releases the fibers into the air, which are then inhaled, becoming lodged in lungs and other tissue. The fibers are indestructible, so the body cannot break them down or remove them and over time, the asbestos causes DNA changes in cells, which then leads to cancer.
Asbestos also causes mesothelioma, the cancer of the mesothelium. There are four different types of mesothelioma including pleural (lungs), peritoneal (abdominal), pericardial (heart), and testicular (testicles). Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, but it still needs to be prevented. There are only around 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed every year, but this does not mean that asbestos can be taken lightly. If you have the option to avoid asbestos, it is in your best interest to prevent exposure, which can help prevent mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma is a horrible cancer. The average life expectancy is usually 14 to 24 months, but many patients only live a year past their diagnosis. The five-year survival rate is 10 percent. This means only 10 percent of patients stay alive five years past their diagnosis. If it is found early, the five-year survival is 20 percent and if the cancer has spread to other areas or lymph nodes, the five-year survival is 12 percent. Patients also have to deal with symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, weight loss, pleural effusion, and night sweats. It is best to prevent mesothelioma and the best way to do this is to avoid asbestos.
If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer and were exposed to asbestos, you could be entitled to compensation. Give us a call at 412-471-3980 or fill out our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Life can be hard after a mesothelioma diagnosis, so let our lawyers make your life easier. Contact us today!
