Lung Cancer and Asbestos Exposure: Diagnosis
Asbestos is a flexible, heat-resistant fibrous mineral that manufacturers in the U.S. once used in producing everything from roof tiles to pajamas. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and while asbestos use is now much more restricted, many people are still exposed to it at work, leaving them more vulnerable to lung cancer.According to the American Cancer Society, as many as 20 % of people who die from lung cancer each year are non-smokers, and more than 12% of new cases diagnosed yearly are people who have never smoked. While we know that smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, many people don’t realize that asbestos exposure can also cause lung cancer.
Lung Cancer and Asbestos
Many people know about the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. The most common type of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, is a cancer of the lining of the lungs. While most people consider mesothelioma lung cancer, it isn’t. But asbestos exposure can also cause lung cancer, one of the deadliest asbestos-related diseases. In fact, asbestos exposure causes six times more lung cancer cases than mesothelioma.
Diagnosing Lung Cancer
Typically, there is no single definitive test for lung cancer. Instead, your doctor may use a combination of tests to diagnose and stage your disease. Initially, your doctor may take a complete health history and physical exam and use laboratory tests, a chest x-ray, a CT scan, test your sputum for cancer cells, and use a thoracentesis to remove fluid from your chest. If your doctor suspects lung cancer, they will order a biopsy. They may perform a biopsy in one of several ways, including:
- Bronchoscopy:
- A bronchoscopy involves inserting a bronchoscope through the mouth or nose to look at the trachea and lungs. Doctors may remove a tissue sample as well.
- Fine-needle Aspiration:
- A fine-need aspiration biopsy involves using a fine needle to tissue or fluid from the lung.
- Thoracoscopy:
- A thoracoscopy is a surgical procedure to examine the organs inside the chest using a small incision and a thoracoscope.
- Mediastinoscopy:
- A mediastinoscopy is a surgical procedure to examine the tissue, lymph nodes, and tissues between your lungs for abnormalities.
- Anterior Mediastinotomy:
- An anterior mediastinotomy is a surgical procedure to look at the lungs and heart, as well as the tissue, lymph nodes, and tissues between your lungs.
- Lymph Node Biopsy:
- Removal of part or all of a lymph node so that a pathologist can examine it.
After diagnosing your lung cancer, doctors may use additional tests to type your lung cancer and determine the stage of the disease.
You Need an Experienced Attorney
If you have asbestos-related lung cancer, you don’t have to handle this alone. The experienced lawyers at the Madeksho Law Firm have been helping people like you get the compensation they deserve for years. Find out how we can help you. Call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your initial consultation is always free, and you won’t pay a fee unless we recover money on your behalf.
