Lung nodules due to asbestos exposure

Lung nodules due to asbestos exposure video

Although lung nodules can appear as a result of numerous factors, including tissue scarring from a previous respiratory infection like tuberculosis or pneumonia, they may also be a sign of lung cancer. Since asbestos exposure is a known risk factor for lung cancer, the presence of one or more nodules in the lungs often indicates the onset of this disease for people with a history of exposure. Nearly 50% of lung nodules are malignant.

With a lung nodules diagnosis alone, you are not eligible for compensation. But given the fact that the rate of misdiagnosis is high, and the cancer risk is high with asbestos exposure, we strongly recommend you get a second and even third opinion outside the VA. If you are diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer, you become eligible to file a claim and obtain financial compensation.

The risk of a lung nodule being cancerous is higher if asbestos exposure occurred

A lung nodule, also known as a pulmonary nodule, spot on the lung, or coin lesion, is a small growth that forms inside the lung. Because lung nodules are not associated with any symptoms, they are often detected during X-rays, CT scans, or other imaging tests. Roughly half of these tissue growths are benign, having developed as a consequence of a prior infection (tuberculosis, pneumonia, fungus, or sarcoidosis) or due to an enlarged lymph node.

Occupational asbestos exposure is likely to result in lung cancer within 15 to 35 years, as the level of airborne fibers was very high in the workplace before the 1980s, and most employees have been in contact with asbestos for several years in a row. Therefore, if you had a high-risk job in the past and a nodule has recently been detected in your lungs, it might be cancerous. To determine whether a lung nodule is benign or malignant, your doctor will:

  • monitor its growth – while benign nodules develop very slowly, cancerous masses tend to grow quite rapidly, generally doubling their size every four months
  • perform a biopsy – a biopsy is the most accurate method of determining the nature of a lung nodule, as the content of the growth will be carefully examined by a pathologist

If a benign lung nodule has been found in your lungs and you start noticing one or more of the following symptoms, you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible:

  • chest pain
  • difficulty swallowing
  • wheezing
  • hoarseness
  • shortness of breath
  • fatigue
  • a persistent cough
  • coughing up blood
  • loss of appetite