Why Asbestos Screening Is Important for Early Cancer Detection:
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos through your job, in a building where you live or work, or through second-hand exposure from a loved one who worked with asbestos, it’s essential to understand the risks. Asbestos exposure can result in lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other chronic health conditions like asbestosis. If you’ve been exposed, discussing early screening with your doctor is essential.
Latency Period for Cancers Related to Asbestos
In medical terms, the “latency period” is the time between your exposure to asbestos and your diagnosis. For asbestos-related cancers like mesothelioma, the latency period can be decades, sometimes up to 60 years. In one recent NIH study, the average time between asbestos exposure and a mesothelioma diagnosis ranged between 37 and 40 years. The latency period isn’t quite as long for other asbestos-related lung cancers, but it’s still significant, with an average of about 10.5 years.
Why is Early Screening Important?
Early screening is essential if you know you were exposed to asbestos through your job, a building where you lived or worked, or even a family member who may have regularly carried asbestos fibers home on work clothes. Early diagnosis of asbestos-related lung cancers are more treatable. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers can be challenging to treat because of the long latency period. With no symptoms, you may have no reason to seek medical help.
Early Cancer Screening
The National Cancer Institute recommends regular physical exams to help detect symptoms earlier. Your doctor may recommend a chest x-ray or lung function tests. While a chest x-ray can’t see asbestos fibers in the lungs, it can identify early signs of disease. A lung biopsy, which examines lung tissue removed via surgery, is the most reliable method for identifying asbestos fibers in the lungs. However, a bronchoscopy can detect fibers rinsed out of the lungs and is less invasive.
Hire an Experienced Asbestos Law Firm
If you or a loved one face a mesothelioma or lung cancer diagnosis related to asbestos exposure, we will help you. Madeksho Law has been helping victims of asbestos exposure and their families since 1972. Find out how we can help you. Call us at 1-888-910-MESO (6376) or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. There is never a charge unless we recover compensation for you.
