Compensation for Asbestos
How is Asbestosis Defined?
Asbestosis is an asbestos-related chronic fibrotic interstitial lung disease. Unlike mesothelioma, this illness is not malignant; nonetheless, individuals may develop mesothelioma in the future. Fibrosis is a kind of lung scarring. The term “interstitial” refers to the lungs’ own tissue. The lung tissue, not the airways, is destroyed in asbestosis. Scarring occurs as a consequence of asbestos fibres entering lung tissue and triggering inflammation. When this procedure is repeated, more scarring occurs.
Asbestosis Symptoms
Scarring, injury, and obliteration of the alveoli (air sacs) happens when oxygen exchange occurs and oxygen diffuses into the blood stream. Scarring or fibrosis inside the lung tissue stiffens the lungs, making breathing more difficult, and may be comparable to other respiratory disorders. The lung becomes very inelastic; as a result, it is unable to exchange sufficient oxygen and carbon dioxide because the alveolar gas exchange units are gradually decreased in quantity and function. One of the symptoms of asbestosis is dyspnoea, or shortness of breath during effort.
Other than asbestos, fibrotic alterations in the lungs may be caused by silica dust, animal dust exposure, rheumatoid arthritis, and a variety of other factors. Silicosis may be caused by exposure to silica dust, such as during excavation activities in silica-rich rock. Exposure to different bird dusts may result in a fibrotic illness known as “birds fanciers’ lung.”
However, asbestosis is a term that refers specifically to lung fibrosis caused by asbestos. Asbestosis is often widespread in nature, occurring across the bottom parts of both lungs and not in discrete areas. Asbestosis-related fibrosis is often about equal in both lungs. Upper lobes may be impacted as the condition advances. Sufferers may face a potential risk of acquiring mesothelioma.
If you have asbestosis, it is critical to have your treatment managed by an experienced expert doctor. As suitable treatment approaches such as medicine, diet, and exercise may significantly enhance one’s quality of life.
Asbestos and the Risk of Lung Cancer
You have been told that you have lung cancer. Perhaps you smoked, but have you ever considered the possibility that your lung cancer was caused by something else? The cause may be asbestos, a lethal material that was previously extensively employed in a variety of sectors during the majority of the twentieth century.
When asbestos first became commercially available, it was lauded for its resistance to fire, water, sound, and electricity. By the 1970s, asbestos was suspected of being a cause of major illnesses such as cancer.
Workers at the time were unaware of the dangers of asbestos. However, the employers of the employees were well aware of this for years. They obfuscated the truth in order to continue profiting.
Lung cancer caused by asbestos is not your responsibility. You should not be refused treatment for an unforeseen event. Businesses who benefited on your disease should be held accountable for their actions.
Overview of Asbestos Lung Cancer
Asbestos-related lung cancer presents with the same symptoms, treatment choices, and prognosis as other types of lung cancer. The main distinction is that asbestos fibres, rather than other risk factors, are to blame.
Asbestos fibres are razor-sharp, very thin, and extremely small. Indeed, they are often imperceptible to the human sight. When an asbestos-containing product is disrupted, the fibres escape into the surrounding air. Individuals nearby may unknowingly inhale these fibres.
Once in the lungs, the fibres may get buried in healthy tissue, irritating and inflaming it. Over the course of many years, if not decades, this damage may result in discomfort, scarring, and ultimately lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Symptoms Due to Asbestos
Asbestos lung cancer symptoms are quite similar to those of non-asbestos lung cancer. Due to the lengthy latency period associated with asbestos-related disorders, symptoms will initially be modest and will gradually worsen before being discovered.
Symptoms of asbestos-related lung cancer include the following:
- Pain in the chest
- Fatigue
- Cough that persists
- Phlegm
- Breathlessness and oxygen deficiency
If any of these symptoms persist for many weeks and do not improve, you should see a physician.
Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos Prognosis and Diagnosis
Lung cancer caused by asbestos is identified via imaging scans and a biopsy. Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs may be used to detect lung cancers. A biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of tissue is removed and examined for malignancy.
Informing your doctor about your asbestos exposure is a critical component of the diagnosing procedure. This enables them to rule out less dangerous illnesses and take asbestos-related disorders into account.
A prognosis varies according on the extent to which the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. In general, if lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the prognosis is fairly bad.
Treatment for Asbestos Lung Cancer
Typically, asbestos lung cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Doctors will surgically remove malignant tumours and treat the surrounding regions.
It is critical to get medical care as soon as possible if you have lung cancer. Treatment may assist in preventing the infection from spreading to other locations. Surgery may be impossible if the cancer has progressed too far. Palliative care may be utilised in certain instances to maintain the patient’s comfort.
Medical expenditures linked with lung cancer treatment are quite high. While health insurance may cover a portion of the cost, it may not be sufficient to cover all of your expenditures.
Are You Eligible for Reimbursement?
If asbestos exposure resulted in your lung cancer, you may be entitled for compensation.
Anyone who worked in an environment that contained asbestos is at risk of developing asbestos lung cancer.
Among the jobs that provide a significant risk of asbestos exposure are the following:
- Aerospace engineers
- Aeronautical mechanics
- Automobile mechanics
- Boilermakers
- Makers of cabinets
- Carpenters
- Miners of coal
- Employees of chemical plants
- Workers in the construction industry
- Firefighters
- Veterans of the military (especially the Navy)
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Employees of power plants
- Railroad employees
- Workers at shipyards and shipbuilders
- Steamfitters
- Welders
Even spouses and children are at danger of asbestos exposure via secondhand exposure. Workers who returned home wearing asbestos-contaminated garments were unaware they were putting their families at danger as well.
Kindly contact us immediately if you want to talk confidentially with an attorney about initiating a compensation claim.