Asbestos Related Lung Cancer

In recent years lung cancer has become the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Each year in the United States alone, over 170,000 people are diagnosed with the lung cancer. While men are at greater risk of developing lung cancer, the number of cases in women is steadily increasing.

The two most prevalent forms of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is more widespread than SCLC and accounts for 75 percent of all lung cancers; SCLC represents 20 percent of all lung cancer cases.

Lung Cancer There are three main types of NSCLC: adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The most common form is adenocarcinoma, accounting for 40 percent of all NSCLCs. Adenocarcinoma stems from abnormal growth of cells that lines the alveoli. Large cell carcinoma is the least common form of NSCLC and develops in a number of different types of large cells. Squamous cell carcinoma, which accounts for 15 to 25 percent of NSCLC cases and is also known as epidermoid carcinoma, begins in the thin, flat squamous cells.
Diagnoses of these NSCLCs depend on the type of cancer cells that are present in the tumor(s), as well as the different manners in which the cancer metastasizes (spreads) and grows. Less common NSCLCs are carcinoid tumor, pleomorphic and salivary gland carcinoma.
Another form of asbestos cancer that is commonly confused with lung cancer, mesothelioma, affects the pleural lining that surrounds the lungs in its most common form, pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, which is directly related to asbestos exposure, is extremely rare—only 2,000 to 3,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. Asbestos-related lung cancer that is not malignant mesothelioma is usually a form of SCLC.
While lung cancer is often thought of as a smoker's disease, smoking is not its only cause. There are a number of risks that may cause lung cancer, including age, smoking, and exposure to asbestos, radon or chemical agents such as Agent Orange or depleted uranium (DU).
Age - The likelihood of developing lung cancer increases with age. Few people under the age of 40 are diagnosed. In fact, most lung cancer diagnoses occur in people who are 45 or older, with a large number of those being 65 or older. Asbestos cancers have a long latency period, so most people aren't diagnosed until 20 to 40 or more years after exposure.

Smoking - Smoking is the most obvious risk of lung cancer. In short, the more cigarettes a person smokes, the more likely their chance of developing lung cancer. Long-time smokers who stop smoking, however, can reduce their chance of developing the disease. Some non-smokers can even develop the disease through second-hand exposure.
Asbestos Exposure - Workers involved in manufacturing, milling, mining or the installation and handling of asbestos products over long periods of time have the greatest risk of developing asbestos-related lung cancers. U.S. military veterans and shipyard workers, especially those who served in the Navy during World War II, are also at risk because of a high rate of exposure during the construction and operation of battleships.
People who have been exposed to asbestos are also at high risk of developing asbestosis, a chronic condition that causes restricted breathing due to scarring of the lungs. Although asbestosis itself is benign, it does increase one’s chance of developing lung cancer.
Chemicals and Gases - After smoking, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Radon is a clear, odorless, naturally occurring gas that is in rocks and soil. Many people who develop lung cancer from radon were exposed to it in their homes. Each year, more than 20,000 people die of radon-related lung cancer.
Chemicals such as depleted uranium and Agent Orange also cause lung cancer, but these cases tend to be rare and are usually limited to people who served in the U.S. military. Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used in Vietnam to kill vegetation and expose the enemy. Soldiers in the Persian Gulf War were exposed to depleted uranium by coming into contact with it in tanks and vehicles, or by coming into contact with vehicles or bunkers that were hit by depleted uranium munitions.
Mesothelioma Treatment Lung cancer patients' prognoses depend on how advanced their cancer is, how or if it has metastasized, and their age and general overall health. Common lung cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Some aggressive treatments include a combination of all three.
Early stages of lung cancer typically do not have severe symptoms, and the symptoms that are present are often similar to those of other common illnesses. Patients are sometimes mistakenly treated for other ailments while there's a more serious, underlying problem. Typical lung cancer symptoms include:

1. chest pain
2. cough or coughing up blood
3. fatigue
4. hoarseness
5. neck and face swelling
6. persistent chest, shoulder, or back pain that worsens with deep breaths
7. repeated bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia
8. shortness of breath
9. weight loss

Since these symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, it is necessary for a patient to see a doctor to determine the exact cause. The doctor likely will ask the patient many questions about his or her medical history, including questions about smoking, and asbestos or chemical exposure. Once diagnosed, the cancer will be staged and a treatment plan will be administered. Lung cancer staging is a determination of how advanced the cancer is. While a number of variables are taken into consideration when staging the disease, the most important factor is whether or not the tumor has metastasized. SCLC and NSCLC, however, are staged differently from one another.
Stages of SCLC Lung Cancer SCLC has just two stages—limited disease and extensive disease—because this type of cancer often spreads beyond the lung very early. In most instances, SCLCs are treated as advanced cancers even if there is no evidence that the cancer has spread.
Limited disease refers to the cancer being contained to only one lung, in nearby lymph nodes or in the pleural fluid surrounding the lungs. Extensive disease indicates that the cancer has spread to other part of the body outside the chest area.
Unlike small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer is divided into four different stages. This is common among other cancers as well. The more progressed the cancer has gotten, the higher the stage rating. The four stages of lung cancer are:
Stage 1 – Cancer is a relatively small tumor with no involvement of the lymph nodes, and no metastasis
Stage 2 – Cancer has moved into the pulmonary hilar or bronchial lymph nodes, but has not spread beyond the lungs.
Stage 3 – Cancer has spread to tissues in the chest and/or invaded lypmh nodes in the mediastinum, but has not yet fully spread through the body.
Stage 4 – Cancer has metastasized. It has spread outside the chest cavity and can be anywhere, the liver or even the brain.

Currently, there are three staging systems used for mesothelioma—the TNM, Butchart systems and the Brigham system. The TNM system, which is the most widely used, focuses on how much the cancer has spread, the size of the tumor and lymph node analysis. The Butchart system, which is much older than the TNM, focuses exclusively on the mass of the primary tumor. The Brigham staging system allows for four stages and it is based on whether the mesothelioma can treated or removed by surgery. It is also based on whether or not the body’s lymph nodes are involved.