Do you or someone you know have lung cancer?

Alone, either cigarette smoking or asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer. In combination, asbestos and smoking have a synergistic effect, meaning asbestos and smoking together cause lung cancer at a rate that could produce independently. For example: A heavy smoker, defined as 20 pack years (smoking one pack a day for 20 years), has a 10 fold increased risk of developing lung cancer over a non-smoker. A non-smoking asbestos-exposed worker has a 5 fold increased risk of developing lung cancer over a non-smoker not exposed to asbestos. However, a person with a 20 year pack history and industrial asbestos exposure has a 50 to 90 fold increased risk of developing lung cancer over a non-smoking, non-asbestos-exposed person.

Asbestos exposure has been determined to be a substantial contributing factor in the development of lung cancer for those who smoked. Therefore, if you were exposed to asbestos and developed lung cancer, you may be entitled to asbestos compensation, even if you smoked. Our expert asbestos attorneys have over 80 years of combined experience of representing 1000s of asbestos related Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer claimants in all 50 states and around the world.

Even if you have been or are a current smoker.

Even if you have been turned down before.

Causes of Lung Cancer

First and second-hand smoke are the main causes of lung cancer. People who do not smoke and who haven’t been exposed to it a lot may also be diagnosed but in these cases, there may not be a clear cause of it. Smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the cells that line the lungs. When you inhale cigarette smoke which is filled with cancer causing chemicals it almost immediately changes the lung tissue. At first, your tissue cells will be able to rebuild themselves but throughout time they start to get weaker and the cells start acting abnormally which causes cancer to develop. The two types of lung cancer are small and nonsmall cell lung cancer. Small cell is mainly found in heavy smokers and nonsmall include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma.

Even if you have been or are a current smoker.

Even if you have been turned down before.

What is the Prognosis for Lung Cancer?

The prognosis for lung cancer is mainly dependent on the stage and type of lung cancer that a patient is diagnosed with. The two types of lung cancer are nonsmall and small cell lung cancer. Both of these types have 4 stages to them. Stages 1 through 3 of nonsmall cell lung cancer is broken up into 2 different stages. Statistics have shown the percentage of survival ratings for 5 years or more after diagnosis for each stage. For stage 1A there is a 58 to 73 percent chance of survival with stage 1B having a 43 to 58 percent chance. Around 36 to 46 percent of patients diagnosed with stage 2A will survive for 5 years or more with treatment and stage 2B has a survival rating of 25 to 36 percent after the patient is diagnosed. Stage 3A has a 19 to 24 percent survival rate and 3B has a 7 to 9 percent survival rate after diagnosis. Stage 4 of nonsmall cell lung cancer has a 2 to 13 percent chance of survival for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Small cell lung cancer is also broken up into 4 stages with stages 1 through 3 being broken into 2 sections. Stage 1A and 2A have around a 40 percent survival rate while stage 1B and 2B have around a 20 percent survival rate up to 5 years or more after diagnosis. Stage 3A hs a 15 percent chance while stage 3B has a 10 percent chance and stage 4 as a 1 percent chance of survival up to 5 years or more of diagnosis.

Even if you have been or are a current smoker.

Even if you have been turned down before.

How is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?

If you have any symptoms that you think could be related to lung cancer, you should go and visit your doctor immediately. Once you are with your doctor they will ask you questions about your health and lifestyle including your family history, any smoking habits you have, and whether or not you have been around certain chemicals or substances. There are some tests that may be conducted which will be able to determine if you have lung cancer if it has spread and if any treatments you are receiving are working. Chest X-rays and sputum cytology are the 2 main ways to determine if a patient has lung cancer. Chest X-rays are photographs taken of your lungs to see if there are any abnormal areas shown. Sputum cytology is a sample of mucus/phlegm that is looked at under a microscope. If the Chest x-ray shows any abnormal areas then more tests are conducted. Bronchoscopy is when a tube that has a tiny camera attached to it is inserted through the nose or mouth of a patient into their lungs. This is used to take a small tissue sample from the lungs for biopsy. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is when a small needle is placed into the tumor to remove small amounts of tissue which will be looked at under a microscope. Thoracentesis is when fluid around the lung is drawn out through a needle to be further examined under a microscope.

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a guided bioassay which checks for lung cancer and finds out if the cancer has spread to any lymph nodes. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) may also be done which includes (CT or CAT (computed axial tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, and PET (positron emission tomography) scans.

Even if you have been or are a current smoker.

Even if you have been turned down before.

What are the Types of Lung Cancer?

Large Cell Carcinoma
Non-Small Cell Carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Large cell neuroendocrine tumors.

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FAQ'S

Q: Where does lung cancer start?

A: Most lung cancers start in the larger air tubes located in the lungs called the bronchi, or the bronchioles, which are the smaller tubes.

Q: Are lung tumors ever non-cancerous?

A: Yes, but non-cancerous lung tumors are rare. Because it may be hard to tell a noncancerous tumor from a cancerous one they are often treated in the same way.

Q: Can non smokers get lung cancer?

A: Yes, nonsmokers can get lung cancer, but the risk is much lower than in smokers. If you constantly breathe in other people’s smoke, have been exposed to radon, asbestos, bad air pollution, certain dangerous chemicals, or have a family history you are also at risk of getting lung cancer.

Q: Can lung cancer be detected early?

A: Yes. It is recommended that people who are at high risk for the disease talk with their doctor about getting a yearly spiral CT scan to look for lung cancer, If you are a heavy smoker or are constantly surrounded by second-hand smoke it is recommended that you get checked.

Q: Are all lung cancers treated the same?

A: No. The treatments and tests that need to be done depend on the type of lung cancer you have, how far it has spread, and how the cancer responds to treatment.