Asbestos is considered a major cause of lung cancer. Asbestos-caused lung cancer develops even in the absence of other cancer-causing agents.
Asbestos exposure combined with smoking greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer. If you inhale both of these substances, you run a greater risk of disease than if you were exposed to either substance alone due to the synergistic effect of the two carcinogens acting together. Because the likelihood of contracting lung cancer is dose-dependent, every exposure to these deadly substances increases your disease potential.
Tobacco Use—a Factor for Asbestos Lung Cancer
Independent of asbestos exposure, cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer mortality in the United States. Nationwide, smoking results in more than 5.6 million years of potential life lost each year. That translates to about 440,000 people per year who die from tobacco use (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC), Tobacco Information and Prevention).
Smokers with no existing lung damage from smoking or asbestos exposure who quit smoking by age 50 can cut risk of death in the next 15 years by 50%. For smokers with exposure to asbestos, the risk of developing lung cancer increases based on the volume of asbestos exposure over time.
For more information about how asbestos lung cancer develops, see Asbestos Lung Cancer on Asbestos Network.
Asbestos Lung Cancer—Legal Representation
For over 40 years, Brayton Purcell LLP has represented clients affected by the devastating effects of asbestos cancer. Our asbestos attorneys can help you recover necessary damages from those responsible for your asbestos-related disease. For a free evaluation of your potential case, please contact Brayton Purcell LLP today with your questions and see how Brayton Purcell LLP can help you.
