Frequently Asked Asbestos Questions

How are Asbestos diseases detected?

If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos at work, in your community or at home, you should contact a doctor immediately. Regardless of whether you are experiencing symptoms, you should see a doctor and inform him or her of your exposure history. Symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-induced illnesses may not appear for decades. When, and if, symptoms do develop, they usually include:

• Breathlessness or shortness of breath
• A cough that won't go away
• Coughing up blood
• Wheezing or hoarseness
• Fatigue or anemia 
• Trouble swallowing 
• Pain or tightening in the chest 
• Swelling of the neck or face 
• Weight loss 
• Loss of appetite 

Your doctor may conduct a physical exam, lung function tests or a chest x-ray. Medical professionals commonly use x-rays to detect asbestos-induced illnesses. While x-rays cannot find asbestos fibers, they can show signs of lung disease. A CT scan may be also be used as this has been more successful at finding lung abnormalities.

If your physician believes you may be suffering from a lung abnormality, he or she may conduct a lung biopsy. This technique can find asbestos fibers in the lung tissue. A bronchoscopy may also be performed as a less invasive option to the lung biopsy. Unfortunately, these tests cannot establish how much exposure the patient had or whether they will develop related illnesses.

Tests of a patient's mucus, feces and urine may be conducted; however, these cannot determine the amount of asbestos present in the person's lungs.

Have you been diagnosed with Mesothelioma? Contact our Mesothelioma Lawyers now to protect your rights.

First Name		Last Name
Email		Telephone
Zip Code
Case Specifics
Please type the number you see below: 1697