Lung Cancer Treatment: Legal Advice for Asbestos Victims, Fi
Lung cancer is the result of malignant cells forming in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining the air passages. The cells in our bodies are constantly dividing and reproducing. Usually, there’s an orderly pattern to this reproduction as cells develop and specialize to meet particular needs. Occasionally, however, a cell becomes damaged. There’s a mutation in its DNA, and rather than maturing and dying as is normal, it continues to reproduce unchecked. In essence, this is cancer – uncontrolled reproduction and growth of abnormal cells in the body.
Most lung cancers are believed to start in the epithelial lining of the lungs – the linings of the large and small airways that perform the task of extracting oxygen from the air. Because of this, lung cancer is sometimes called bronchogenic carcinoma – cancer arising from the bronchia. A smaller percentage of lung cancers begin in the pleura – the thin tissue sac that surrounds the lungs. These cancers are called mesothelioma. The most common form of mesothelioma is linked to asbestos exposure.
Cancer of the lungs is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. While it may take a period of years to develop, the cancer often goes undetected until late in the process. In addition, it tends to metastasize (migrate to other parts of the body) early, which leaves fewer opportunities to fight the mutated cells with surgery or radiation. Once the lung cancer does metastasize, it quickly spreads to the most vulnerable and important organs of the body, particularly the adrenal glands, the liver, the brain and the bones.
There are two primary forms of lung cancer – Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Small Cell Lung Cancer is less common, though far more deadly. It’s directly linked to cigarette smoking – less than 1% of SCLC is diagnosed in non-smokers. It’s also extremely aggressive and fast-moving, metastasizing rapidly to other organs, and often undiscovered until it’s already widespread.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, on the other hand, is far more common, accounting for nearly 80% of all diagnosed lung cancers. There are three main types of non-small cell lung cancer, generally characterized by the size, shape, and chemical composition of the cells that form the cancer:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (also referred to as Epidermoid Carcinoma): accounts for around 25% – 30% of all lung cancers, and is associated with a history of smoking. This cancer is nearly always found in the central chest area, near the bronchus.
Adenocarcinoma (also referred to as Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma): accounts for around 40% of all lung cancers, and is found in the external region of the lung. Treatment for this form of lung cancer often leads to a more successful outcome than that of other lung cancers.
Large-Cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma: accounting for only 10% – 15% of lung cancers, this form may show up in any area of the lung. It tends to spread quickly, and often results in a poor prognosis.
It’s also possible for lung cancer to be a combination of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer types.
There are other, less common types of lung cancer. For instance, bronchial carcinoids are small tumors often found in people under 40 years of age. They tend to grow slowly, and be amenable to treatment. Carcinoid tumors account for approximately 5% of lung tumors. Some are non-cancerous. The others are generally slow-growing and can be successfully treated with surgery.
Finally, some cancers discovered in the lungs aren’t lung cancers at all. Since the lungs are prone to metastatic cancers from other sites, it’s not uncommon for tumors from other primary cancers to find their way to the lungs. When this occurs, the tumors are often discovered in the peripheral tissues of the lungs rather than in the central tissues.
Please note that the information provided in this article is for information purposes only. It should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of lung cancer. Such situations should always involve the expertise of a physician or health care provider.
Watch the video related to asbestos lung cancer
Video in which Dr. Steven Levin describes the ways in which lung cancer can be diagnosed and treated, from LegalView: Information on class action lawsuits, class action attorneys, and more from www.legalview.com.
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I had a CT scan done of the chest and it showed 4 small nodules; now I have pain under rib cage. Lung Cancer?The last 2 months have been a pain in the rear! I have had numerous tests done to see what this chronic swelling in the face and neck and the doc thought my lymphoma might be back- it was not. The swelling did not go away though. So, he decided to check the chest/lungs, stomach, kidneys, gall bladder, liver, and pancreas. Everything was fine except the lungs. The lungs showed 4 small nodules, but the oncologist was not too worried. Now I have a stabbing pain under my right rib cage and it feels like I'm itching from the inside out. Could this be more serious. Does this sound like lung cancer?
I quit smoking 3 years ago and I didn't smoke real often to begin with. I don't live with smoker and am not in close contact with any. I have never been exposed to asbestos. I just don't get it!
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David Silva is the webmaster for Lung Cancer Insights, a site dedicated to the dissemination of information about lung cancer, mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer, and their treatments.
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The carcinogenic nature of asbestos (chrysotile) has been related to the shape of the particles more than their composition. In other words, the substance itself is not carcinogenic – the shape is!
Chrysotile produces very thin fibers that can be many times longer than they are wide. When these become embedded in the lungs, larger particles can be coughed out but smaller particles need to be carried out by a type of white blood cell called a macrophage. Unfortunately, small asbestos fibers tend to be so long relative to their width that they tend to be actually longer than the macrophages. When the macrophages try to engulf them, the cells puncture and the macrophages die before they can do their job.
The EPA has targeted asbestos fibers over 8 micrometers in length as being the bad actors in causing mesothelioma (asbestos-related cancer), and claims that particles shorter than about 4 micrometers are not harmful (although this point is still being argued). Theoretically, the macrophages can successfully engulf shorter particles and get rid of them.
So why the cancer? There have been various theories about the mechanism. One theory is that the constant release of biochemical "distress signals" given off by the dying macrophages are the actual cause of the cancer. Another theory is that the asbestos particles have active surface sites for the generation of free radicals from oxygen, and that the free radicals are capable of reacting with and damaging the surrounding cells.
It's an interesting story. The link below has everything that you need (it is basically a list of resource papers and articles) although you will have to do some work to sift through the material.
The summary I wrote here is just from memory. When I was in university many moons ago this was one of the hot research topics in our department, so I got to see a lot of presentations on the subject although it was not an area in which I was personally working.
Good luck on the project
Shortness of breath is the main first symptom. Fatigue, weight loss, and a dry cough are also symptoms. My mom died from mesothelioma in 2006.
There have been many types of lung issues. None from asbestos as that takes many years to develop. There is however lung issues from all the construction dust from drywall and concrete which will effect you immediately.
Have you thought to ask your parents about this … or going to see your doctor?
Warts are not caused by asbestos … they are caused by a virus .
It's unlikely.
Cats don't smoke, which greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer for people who have been exposed to asbestos.
Cats don't live very long, and are likely to die of other causes well before lung cancer would show up.
But here's the thing: if your cat has been exposed to asbestos, so have you. Kitty will have carried some fibers home on her fur. I'm more worred about you than the cat. Tell your doctor. You may want to get screened in a decade.
I suppose it could be a danger if you were in the heavy processing of these items. On the other hand, people who have never smoked still get lung cancer, as did the wife of Christopher Reeves.
They say paint, intensive gasoline fumes, and other chemicals infiltrating our air can cause this as well.
My sister died with it and it was thought to be strictly from stress.
We are all at a certain risk level just by living in a society. Don't worry about it though – worry can cause cancer too.
suggest you check out the american heart and lung website. lots of useful information there.
It depends on the kind of asbestos. Some kinds the risk is so low that it is worse to remove it, because of the added risk of stirring it up. I'm assuming you mean mesothelioma, which afflicts about 2-3,000 new people each year in the US (out of all third of a billion of us!), so the actual risk is very, very low. It also tends to be older folks. Of course, none of that helps if it's you, but you should keep the risk in perspective, and remember to wear a seatbelt and not smoke before you worry about spending mega-bucks removing asbestos or buying a new home to get away from it.
Here's some info on prevention:
Asbestos does indeed cause a rare form of lung disease called mesothelioma. It is because of the nature of the extremely small fibers that make up asbestos. Once the loose fibers are inhaled the stay in the lungs for years as a constant irritant to the lungs, and eventually cancer results. In the past asbestos was used in everything from brake shoes, to window putty, to pipe insulation and more. It was used because of its ability to withstand high temps. The real problem is when the fibers are loose like when the wheels of a car are removed and the dust is inhaled, or when the insulation of an old building is flaking and the fibers are loose and can be inhaled, this is the real danger. As long as the asbestos is intact and the fibers are not loose there is no danger. Asbestos is no longer used in cars, or insulation or ceiling tiles or any other products because it is so dangerous. If these are newer ironing board covers there is no asbestos in there. About 5 years ago here in MN there was a congressman who died of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. He worked in old buildings in the east side of Saint Paul, MN and was exposed to asbestos insulation. Once a person has it there is no cure, but based on what you wrote I would not worry about any modern products as asbestos was outlawed a long time ago.