The Other Asbestos Cancer That Does Not Get Enough Attention
You worked around asbestos decades ago. Maybe it was at a shipyard. Maybe it was at a construction site. Maybe it was at a power plant or factory. Maybe you served in the Navy. Maybe you just lived with someone who brought asbestos fibers home on their work clothes.
Now you have lung cancer. Your doctor asks if you smoked. You did. Or you did not. But your doctor does not ask the other important question. Were you ever exposed to asbestos?
Here is the truth that many doctors miss. Asbestos causes lung cancer. Not just mesothelioma. Regular lung cancer. The same kind of lung cancer that smokers get. And if you were exposed to asbestos and also smoked, your risk is incredibly high. Fifty to ninety times higher than someone who was not exposed and did not smoke.
If you have lung cancer and you were ever exposed to asbestos, you need to know your rights. You may be entitled to significant financial compensation from asbestos trust funds and lawsuits. The same compensation available to mesothelioma patients is also available to people with asbestos lung cancer.
This guide is for you. You will learn how asbestos causes lung cancer, how it is different from mesothelioma, what symptoms to watch for, how doctors diagnose it, what treatment options are available, and most importantly, how to get the financial help you need and deserve.
No complicated medical language. No confusing legal jargon. Just clear, honest information to help you fight this disease and get the compensation you are owed.
Asbestos and Lung Cancer: The Connection Most People Do Not Know
Everyone knows that smoking causes lung cancer. But many people do not know that asbestos causes lung cancer too.
Asbestos fibers are tiny. You cannot see them. You cannot smell them. When you breathe them in, they get stuck deep in your lungs. Your body cannot break them down or get rid of them.
Those fibers cause inflammation and scarring. Over time, that damage can turn into cancer. This is true for mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. It is also true for lung cancer, which affects the lung tissue itself.
The medical term is asbestos-related lung cancer. It looks the same under a microscope as lung cancer caused by smoking. There is no way to tell the difference. The only way to know if asbestos caused your lung cancer is to know your exposure history.
If you worked around asbestos, if you served in the military and were exposed, if you lived with someone who brought asbestos home on their work clothes, and you now have lung cancer, it is very likely that asbestos was at least a contributing cause.
Asbestos Lung Cancer vs. Mesothelioma: What Is the Difference?
Many people confuse these two diseases. They are different.
Mesothelioma
- Affects the pleura (the lining around the lungs)
- Almost always caused by asbestos (over 90 percent of cases)
- Does not have a strong link to smoking
- Is relatively rare (about 3,000 cases per year in the US)
- Has a different appearance under the microscope
- Responds to different treatments
Asbestos Lung Cancer
- Affects the lung tissue itself (not the lining)
- Can be caused by asbestos, smoking, or both
- Has a very strong link to smoking (smokers have much higher risk)
- Is very common (over 200,000 cases per year in the US)
- Looks the same as smoking-related lung cancer
- Responds to the same treatments as other lung cancers
Here is the most important difference for legal purposes. Mesothelioma is almost always compensated. Asbestos lung cancer requires additional proof. You need to show that you had significant asbestos exposure and that your lung cancer is related to that exposure.
But do not let that scare you. Thousands of people with asbestos lung cancer have received compensation. You can too.
The Deadly Combination: Asbestos and Smoking
Here is the statistic that every smoker needs to read.
If you never smoked and were never exposed to asbestos, your risk of getting lung cancer is very low.
If you smoked but were never exposed to asbestos, your risk of lung cancer is about 10 times higher than a non-smoker.
If you were exposed to asbestos but never smoked, your risk of lung cancer is about 5 times higher than someone with no exposure.
But if you were exposed to asbestos and you also smoked, your risk of lung cancer is 50 to 90 times higher than someone who did neither.
This is not addition. This is multiplication. Asbestos and smoking work together to cause lung cancer. They make each other worse.
If you have lung cancer and you have a history of both asbestos exposure and smoking, you may still be able to get compensation. The law recognizes that asbestos contributed to your disease, even if smoking also contributed.
Symptoms of Asbestos Lung Cancer
The symptoms of asbestos lung cancer are the same as the symptoms of any lung cancer. They can be vague. They can look like other, less serious conditions. That is why lung cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage.
Common symptoms include:
- A cough that does not go away or gets worse over time
- Coughing up blood (even a small amount)
- Chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
- Shortness of breath
- Hoarseness in your voice
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling very tired all the time
- Wheezing
- Repeated respiratory infections like pneumonia or bronchitis
If you have these symptoms and you know you were exposed to asbestos, tell your doctor. Do not let them assume it is just from smoking. Your exposure history matters.
How Is Asbestos Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
The diagnosis process for asbestos lung cancer is the same as for any lung cancer.
Imaging Scans
The first test is usually a chest X-ray or CT scan. These scans can show a mass or spot on your lung. They can also show if the cancer has spread to other parts of your chest.
Sputum Cytology
If you have a cough that produces phlegm, your doctor may look at the phlegm under a microscope. Sometimes cancer cells show up in the phlegm.
Biopsy
A biopsy is the only way to know for sure if you have lung cancer. A doctor takes a small sample of tissue from the suspicious area. A pathologist looks at it under a microscope. If cancer cells are present, the pathologist can tell what type of lung cancer it is.
The biopsy can be done in several ways. A bronchoscopy uses a thin tube inserted through your mouth or nose into your lungs. A needle biopsy uses a needle inserted through your chest. Surgery may be needed to get a larger sample.
Molecular Testing
Once lung cancer is diagnosed, the tumor is often tested for genetic mutations. This testing helps doctors choose the best treatment. Some targeted therapies only work on cancers with specific mutations.
How Doctors Determine If Asbestos Caused Your Lung Cancer
Doctors cannot look at a lung cancer cell and say “this was caused by asbestos.” Asbestos lung cancer looks the same as smoking-related lung cancer.
Instead, doctors use three criteria to determine if asbestos was likely a cause.
Significant Asbestos Exposure
Doctors look for evidence that you had substantial exposure to asbestos. Working in a shipyard, construction site, or factory for many years. Serving in the Navy on asbestos-filled ships. Living with someone who brought asbestos home on their work clothes.
No Other Likely Cause
If you never smoked or were a very light smoker, and you had significant asbestos exposure, doctors will likely conclude that asbestos caused your lung cancer.
Imaging Evidence of Asbestos Exposure
Doctors may see signs of asbestos exposure on your scans. Pleural plaques are patches of scar tissue on the lining of the lungs. They are almost always caused by asbestos exposure. If you have pleural plaques and lung cancer, it strongly suggests that asbestos played a role.
Treatment Options for Asbestos Lung Cancer
The treatment for asbestos lung cancer is the same as for any lung cancer. The options depend on the stage of your cancer and your overall health.
Surgery
If your cancer is caught early and has not spread, surgery may be an option. The surgeon removes the part of the lung that contains the tumor. This is called a lobectomy if they remove one lobe of the lung. It is a pneumonectomy if they remove the entire lung.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs travel through your whole body. They can reach cancer cells that have spread. Chemotherapy is often given before surgery to shrink the tumor, or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It is often used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. It can also be used to shrink tumors that are causing pain or trouble breathing.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapies are drugs that attack specific mutations in cancer cells. Your tumor must be tested to see if it has a mutation that can be targeted. Common targeted therapies for lung cancer include drugs that target EGFR, ALK, ROS1, and other mutations.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps your own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. It has been a game-changer for many lung cancer patients. Some patients who were not helped by chemotherapy have done very well on immunotherapy.
Your Legal Rights: Compensation for Asbestos Lung Cancer
Here is the most important part of this guide for many readers. You may be entitled to financial compensation if you have lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
The same asbestos trust funds that pay claims for mesothelioma also pay claims for lung cancer. The payments are often smaller than mesothelioma payments, but they can still be significant. Many lung cancer patients receive between 100,000and500,000 from trust funds alone.
Types of Compensation Available
Asbestos bankruptcy trusts: There are over sixty trust funds holding more than thirty billion dollars. These trusts pay claims for lung cancer as well as mesothelioma. Your lawyer can file claims with multiple trusts.
Lawsuits against asbestos companies: You can sue companies that are still in business. Lawsuits can result in larger payouts than trust funds, but they take longer and there is a risk of losing.
VA benefits for veterans: If you are a veteran with service-connected asbestos exposure, you may be eligible for monthly disability compensation and free health care.
Workers’ compensation: If you were exposed at work, you might be able to file a workers’ compensation claim.
How Much Money Can You Get?
Every case is different. The amount depends on many factors including:
- The strength of your evidence of asbestos exposure
- Whether you have pleural plaques or other signs of asbestos exposure on your scans
- Whether you smoked and how much
- Which trust funds and companies you are eligible to file against
Many lung cancer patients receive between 100,000and500,000 from trust funds alone. Some receive more. Some receive less.
Do Smoking and Asbestos Both Contribute to Your Cancer?
This is a common concern. Many people think that if they smoked, they cannot get compensation for asbestos lung cancer. That is not true.
The law recognizes that when multiple factors cause a disease, each responsible party is still liable. If smoking contributed to your lung cancer and asbestos also contributed, the asbestos companies are still responsible for their share.
Your compensation may be reduced if you were a heavy smoker. But you can still get money. Do not let fear of smoking history stop you from calling a lawyer.
How to Find a Lawyer for Asbestos Lung Cancer
You need a lawyer who specializes in asbestos cases. Do not hire a general personal injury lawyer. Asbestos lung cancer claims are complicated. You need someone who does this work every day.
The best asbestos lawyer will:
- Give you a free consultation
- Work on contingency (you pay nothing upfront)
- Have handled hundreds of asbestos lung cancer cases
- Know which trust funds are paying and how much
- Be willing to travel to you
Do not worry about finding a lawyer in your city. Asbestos lawyers work with clients all over the country. They can handle everything by phone, mail, and email.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
- Your lung cancer diagnosis and biopsy report
- Your work history (every job you ever had)
- Your military service history
- Any records of asbestos exposure you remember
- Your smoking history (be honest about this)
VA Benefits for Veterans with Asbestos Lung Cancer
If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for VA benefits. The VA recognizes lung cancer as a service-connected condition for veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their military service.
This is especially true for Navy veterans who served on ships. But veterans from all branches may qualify.
What VA Benefits Are Available?
- Monthly disability compensation (tax-free)
- Free health care for your lung cancer
- Help for your family if you die from your lung cancer
To apply, contact a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) from the American Legion, VFW, or DAV. Their services are free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get compensation for lung cancer if I smoked?
Yes. The law recognizes that asbestos contributed to your disease even if smoking also contributed. Your compensation may be reduced, but you can still get money.
How much asbestos exposure causes lung cancer?
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. The risk increases with the amount and duration of exposure. But even people with brief exposures have developed lung cancer.
How long does it take for lung cancer to develop after asbestos exposure?
Lung cancer from asbestos usually takes 20 to 50 years to develop after exposure. This is similar to mesothelioma.
What is the difference between mesothelioma and lung cancer?
Mesothelioma affects the lining around the lungs. Lung cancer affects the lung tissue itself. They are different diseases with different treatments and different legal considerations.
Can I file a claim if I do not know where I was exposed?
Your lawyer can help figure it out. They will ask you about every job you ever had and every place you ever lived.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Every state has a deadline called the statute of limitations. It is usually one to four years from the date you were diagnosed. Call a lawyer as soon as possible.
Hope and Action
A lung cancer diagnosis is devastating. The fear, the uncertainty, the treatment. It is overwhelming. But you do not have to face it alone.
There are doctors who can treat you. There are treatments that can help. There are lawyers who can get you money to pay for your care and support your family.
You worked around asbestos because you were doing your job. You served your country. You provided for your family. You did nothing wrong. The companies that made and sold asbestos products knew the danger. They hid the truth. They are the ones at fault.
Now it is time to hold them responsible.
Do not wait. Call a doctor. Call a lawyer. Get the treatment you need. Get the money you deserve. Your family is counting on you.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about asbestos lung cancer, treatment options, and legal rights. It does not constitute medical advice or legal advice. Every case is different. Always consult with qualified medical professionals and attorneys about your specific situation. If you have lung cancer and a history of asbestos exposure, speak with a doctor immediately and contact a qualified asbestos lawyer to understand your legal rights. Smoking history does not automatically disqualify you from compensation. Do not let fear stop you from calling.