Exposure to asbestos, whether by working in an asbestos industry or through accidental contact with asbestos fibers, can increase the risk of developing cancer. People who worked in an asbestos-related industry for many years are at the highest risk of developing cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Treatment varies depending on the type of cancer.
Identification
Asbestos, a group of minerals found in soil and rocks, was a key ingredient in insulation for many years. Asbestos was also used to manufacture roofing shingles, siding, cement, floor tiles, automobile brakes and many other products. Asbestos fibers are released into the air in a fine dust when people work with asbestos or are exposed to asbestos fibers when working with old insulation or building products. When inhaled, these fibers remain in the lungs and can eventually cause lung disease or cancer. Exposure can also occur if people drink water flowing from asbestos cement pipes or eat asbestos-contaminated food, according to the ACS. Today, few products are made with asbestos due to the known health risks.
Risk Factors
People who worked in industries that used asbestos, such as shipyards, railroads, mines, insulation and textile manufacturers, and construction and gas mask companies, are at a higher risk of developing asbestos-related cancer. Family members of asbestos workers may be exposed to asbestos when fibers are carried into homes on the workers' clothes, shoes, hair and skin, according to the ACS. Removing old building products containing asbestos without using protective clothing and equipment can also increase the risk of developing asbestos-related cancer.
Types of Cancer
Long-term asbestos exposure can lead to lung cancer, a type of cancer that causes tumors to form in the lungs. Asbestos exposure, combined with cigarette smoking, increases the risk of developing lung cancer by 50 to 84 times, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer that affects the membranes lining the chest and abdomen, can also occur after years of exposure to asbestos fibers and dust.
Symptoms
When mesothelioma occurs in the chest, symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, fever, fatigue, hoarseness, weight loss, sweating, weak muscles, chest or lower back pain and swelling in the arms or face. Approximately three out of four mesotheliomas begin in the chest cavity, according to the ACS. Symptoms in the abdominal cavity include pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and a lump or fluid in the abdomen.
Lung cancer symptoms include chronic cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, hoarseness, fatigue, weight loss and lung infections.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can be difficult to treat because the cancer spreads along surfaces, nerves and blood vessels, rather than growing as a single tumor, according to the ACS. In some cases, surgery may be performed to relieve symptoms. Removing excess fluids in the abdomen or chest can also be helpful in relieving symptoms. In some cases, radiation or chemotherapy may be used to reduce or relieve the symptoms of mesothelioma.
Treatment for lung cancer involves shrinking the tumor or tumors with chemotherapy and radiation or surgically removing tumors. Targeted therapy may be helpful in blocking the spread and growth of cancer cells, according to the National Cancer Institute. Targeted therapy drugs are given orally or are placed directly in a vein using intravenous treatments.
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