Asbestos colorectal cancer claims

Asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer: What research says

A causal link between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer has yet to be established, but there have been multiple studies suggesting the existence of a connection. In 2019, a meta-analysis published by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health linked asbestos exposure to increased risks of developing colorectal cancer. Furthermore, researchers from the American Journal of Epidemiology pointed out that "colorectal cancer risk is elevated among men occupationally exposed to asbestos."

Asbestos fibers can enter the body through inhalation or ingestion. Once inside, these microscopic fibers can become lodged in the colon or rectum, where they may remain for an extended period. As a result, it can cause inflammation, scarring, and cellular damage, all of which can lead to cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States. The latest figures from the American Cancer Society showed that the country records 46,950 new cases of rectal cancer and 107,320 new cases of colon cancer every year.

Who is eligible to file asbestos colorectal cancer claims?

To file colorectal cancer claims related to asbestos exposure, you must meet the following criteria:

• You received an asbestos-related cancer diagnosis in the last 3 years.
• You were a military personnel or a former industrial worker working in a high-risk, asbestos-exposure occupation.
• You are a family member of an industrial worker or veteran suffering from cancer due to secondhand asbestos exposure.
• You are a family member of a deceased patient diagnosed with colorectal cancer and a history of asbestos exposure.

Colorectal cancer misdiagnosis and asbestos exposure work history

Since cases of colorectal cancer that occur as a result of asbestos exposure are quite rare, when people receive a colorectal cancer diagnosis, the doctor will not make the connection to asbestos fibers that were ingested or inhaled and now are lodged in the lungs and colon as the culprit of the colorectal cancer.

Regrettably, misdiagnosis is very common among victims of workplace asbestos exposure, especially when other afflictions than lung disease are concerned.

Due to the latency period of several decades and the lack of knowledge when it comes to the correlation between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer, the disease is challenging to diagnose, as many doctors do not check the lungs thoroughly and specifically do not look for asbestos fibers.

However, if you struggle with colorectal cancer and have a history of occupational asbestos exposure, a tell-tale sign that the former is the result of the latter is the presence of asbestos fibers in your lungs.

Interestingly, most individuals develop colorectal cancer because the asbestos fibers they breathed in during their jobs travel through the body to the area in question. Therefore, underlying lung disease is almost the norm for people who develop colorectal cancer following asbestos exposure.