Research studies show that there is an increase in lung diseases among workers that were exposed to asbestos and a more significant increase among those workers exposed in asbestos who are smokers.
Cancer in the lungs which is due to asbestos exposure usually starts at the bronchi lining – these are the tubes where the trachea and windpipe divides; but there are also instances where it also begins in other areas such as the trachea, bronchioles, or in the alveoli. Cancer of the lungs can usually develop slowly, but once it occurs, the cancer cells will spread to the other parts of the body.
Early stages of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure may be without any symptoms or what we call, asymptomatic. There are different methods used in diagnosing asbestos lung cancer and that includes biopsies, through phlegm samples and imaging tests.
There are two types of lung cancer. The small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the cancer cells are round and small. While the other type, is the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) where the cancer cells are bigger. There are also those that are mixed of small cells and large cancer cells.
As a result, smoking and asbestos are a deadly combination – increasing the development of asbestos-related diseases. Smoking is always a major health risk. You need to care for your body and to everyone else around you. Remember that, once the asbestos particles are inside you, it will be hard to treat and it will be permanent which can lead to irreparable damage to your body.