Is Small-Cell Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos?

Ward Black Law | | Asbestos Disease Claims
Small cell lung cancer

Asbestos exposure can cause a range of severe or life-threatening diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. But can asbestos cause small-cell lung cancer? Yes, asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of small-cell lung cancer.

People with a history of asbestos exposure who have received a small cell lung cancer diagnosis might have legal claims to recover compensation for medical expenses, long-term care, lost income, pain, suffering, and other losses.

Overview of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the two primary types of lung cancer. SCLC occurs more rarely and causes more aggressive cases of cancer than the other primary type of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer.

As the second-most common form of lung cancer, SCLC accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancer cases. SCLC usually forms in the airways in the lungs before spreading throughout the body. However, due to SCLC’s aggressive nature, many patients do not receive a diagnosis until after the cancer has already spread to the lymph nodes and other organs.

The most common causes of SCLC are cigarette smoking and other tobacco use. However, the disease has other potential causes, such as asbestos exposure, secondhand smoke, radon exposure, and exposure to other carcinogens (cancer-causing materials).

Common symptoms of SCLC include:

  • Chest pain
  • Chronic or worsening cough
  • Coughing up bloody mucus
  • Difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Shortness of breath
  • Swollen face or neck
  • Unexplained weight loss

Links Between Asbestos Exposure and SCLC

Exposure to asbestos can lead to several different lung and chest diseases. One survey of studies examining links between asbestos and SCLC found a significant increase in the risk of developing SCLC following extended occupational exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos can break up into microscopic fibers that can float in the air. People exposed to asbestos dust can inhale the fibers, which get lodged inside the lungs. The fibers can irritate and damage lung tissues. With enough exposure and over enough time, this damage may cause cancer cells to form.

Legal Options for SCLC Patients Exposed to Asbestos

SCLC patients with a history of asbestos exposure may have legal options to seek financial compensation that can help pay for their expensive medical care, lost income, and other losses. Manufacturers of asbestos products knew about the dangers of asbestos fibers yet concealed those risks from the public and continued selling their products for decades. People harmed by asbestos exposure may pursue compensation for their SCLC by:

  • In some instances, filing lawsuits against manufacturers
  • Filing claims with bankruptcy trusts set up by asbestos manufacturers to pay exposed individuals
  • Receiving workers’ compensation benefits after developing SCLC which can include weekly payments and coverage of related medical bills and expenses

You could have multiple options for financial recovery, so you need experienced legal counsel to help you obtain maximum compensation from all available sources. The North Carolina small cell lung cancer asbestos exposure attorneys at Ward Black Law want to help you now.

Talk to Our Experienced Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawyers in North Carolina Today

Have you received a small cell lung cancer diagnosis? If your cancer occurred due to asbestos exposure, you may have the right to seek financial compensation from those responsible for exposing you to the cancer-causing substance.

Contact Ward Black Law today for a free, no-obligation case review to discuss your legal options with our knowledgeable small cell lung cancer asbestos attorneys. Our award-winning law firm has handled asbestos claims for over 30 years and has helped more than 1,000 individuals secure compensation. We want to help you now.