Disease Information

Here you will find information related to Asbestos related diseases.

Click here to read some very important information about Asbestos and why it is a health hazard.

Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of either the lung or abdominal cavity.  Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos and is not related to smoking.  Cases of mesothelioma have been reported when the dose is very low and the exposure is brief.  Home renovation is a classic example of this.

Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer is a tumour in the bronchial tubes and lungs.  People who have been exposed to asbestos are at greater risk of developing lung cancer than those who have not.  Most people who contract asbestos related lung cancer are also smokers.  Smoking and asbestos exposure can combine to increase the risk of lung cancer.

Asbestosis
Asbestosis is not a cancer – it is a scarring or a fibrosis of the lungs.  As asbestos fibres cannot be exhaled from the lungs the body covers the fibres with scar tissue.  Because the scarring is progressive it continues to grow in the lungs even if no further asbestos is inhaled.  The scar tissue is not elastic and doesn’t expand and contract with the lungs. Once a significant amount of scar tissue has grown the lungs become inefficient and cannot handle the volume of air necessary to produce the amount of oxygen the body needs.  People with asbestosis usually experience shortness of breath on minor exertion and pain.

Pleural Plaques
Pleural plaques are patches of thickening of the lining of the lungs.  Pleural plaques are an indication of asbestos exposure but not an indication of cancer.  They can however cause chest pain and breathlessness.