Long-term asbestos exposure can increase the risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. In many cases, symptoms do not appear for 20-30 years after the exposure point.
Asbestosis
When asbestos dust is breathed in, the fibres can enter the lungs and gradually scar them over time, causing long-term damage and inflammation. This condition is known as asbestosis and is incurable. Those diagnosed with asbestosis need long-term treatment to manage the condition, which may include the use of inhalers or oxygen therapy.
Symptoms of asbestosis can include:
- Shortness of breath;
- Wheezing;
- A persistent cough;
- Fatigue;
- Chest or shoulder pain; or
- Swollen fingertips.
Mesothelioma
In the UK, more than 2,700 people are diagnosed with a type of cancer known as mesothelioma. This is an incurable form of cancer that develops in the lining covering the outer surface of some organs, such as the lungs, stomach, heart, or testicles. It most often affects the lungs, resulting in a type of cancer known as pleural mesothelioma.
Like asbestosis, mesothelioma symptoms appear gradually over time. However, in addition to asbestosis symptoms, mesothelioma symptoms in the lungs or stomach can include:
- A high temperature and sweating, especially during the night;
- Loss of appetite and unexpected weight loss;
- Feeling or being sick;
- Stomach pain or swelling; or
- Diarrhoea or constipation.
The prognosis is poor because it often doesn’t cause any visible symptoms until the disease is well-advanced. From that stage, the disease can progress quickly.
Asbestos related diffuse pleural thickening
Pleural thickening occurs when scar tissue increases the thickness of the lungs’ membrane lining. It may or may not have any obvious symptoms, but it is often a sign of asbestos exposure.
As the scarring becomes more rigid, the lungs find it increasingly difficult to expand when breathing. Common symptoms include shortness of breath and chest pain.
Although it rarely leads to death, asbestos-related diffuse pleural thickening can reduce lung function and impact a person’s quality of life.
Asbestos related Lung Cancer
While asbestos exposure only contributes to a small number of lung cancer diagnoses, asbestos-related lung cancer is another very serious form of asbestos-related disease. It differs from mesothelioma as the cancer tumours form inside the lungs rather than in the outer lining. In the majority of cases, it is fatal.
