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Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk

Key Points

• Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the 

environment as bundles of fibers (see Question 1). 

• Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of asbestosis, other nonmalignant lung and

pleural disorders, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other cancers (see Question 3). 

• Smokers who are also exposed to asbestos have a greatly increased risk of lung cancer

(see Question 6). 

• Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos

on the job, through the environment, or at home through a family contact should

inform their physician and report any symptoms (see Question 7). 

• Government agencies can provide additional information on asbestos exposure (see

Questions 8, 9, and 11).

1. What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles 

of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable threads. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and 

chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been used widely in many 

industries. 

Chemically, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, meaning they contain atoms of silicon and 

oxygen in their molecular structure. 

Asbestos minerals are divided into two major groups: Serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos. 

Serpentine asbestos includes the mineral chrysotile, which has long, curly fibers that can be woven. 

Chrysotile asbestos is the form that has been used most widely in commercial applications. Amphibole 

asbestos includes the minerals actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite. Amphibole 

asbestos has straight, needle-like fibers that are more brittle than those of serpentine asbestos and 

are more limited in their ability to be fabricated (1, 2). 

2. How is asbestos used?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially in North America since the late 1800s. Its use 

increased greatly during World War II (3, 4). Since then, asbestos has been used in many industries. 

For example, the building and construction industries have used it for strengthening cement and 

plastics as well as for insulation, roofing, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry 

has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses 

asbestos in vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads. Asbestos has also been used in ceiling and floor tiles; 

paints, coatings, and adhesives; and plastics. In addition, asbestos has been found in 

vermiculite-containing garden products and some talc-containing crayons. 

In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos 

in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products 

could be released into the environment during use. In addition, manufacturers of electric hairdryers 

voluntarily stopped using asbestos in their products in 1979. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; however, uses developed before 1989 are 

still allowed. The EPA also established regulations that require school systems to inspect buildings for 

the presence of damaged asbestos and to eliminate or reduce asbestos exposure to occupants by 

removing the asbestos or encasing it (2). 
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In June 2000, the CPSC concluded that the risk of children’s exposure to asbestos fibers in crayons was 

extremely low (1). However, U.S. manufacturers of these crayons agreed to eliminate talc from their products. 

In August 2000, the EPA conducted a series of tests to evaluate the risk for consumers of adverse health 

effects associated with exposure to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. The EPA concluded that exposure to 

asbestos from some vermiculite products poses only a minimal health risk. The EPA recommended that 

consumers reduce the low risk associated with the occasional use of vermiculite during gardening activities by 

limiting the amount of dust produced during vermiculite use. Specifically, the EPA suggested that consumers 

use vermiculite outdoors or in a well-ventilated area; keep vermiculite damp while using it; avoid bringing 

dust from vermiculite into the home on clothing; and use premixed potting soil, which is less likely to generate 

dust (2).

The regulations described above and other actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the health 

hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in the U.S. use of asbestos. Domestic 

consumption of asbestos amounted to about 803,000 metric tons in 1973, but it had dropped to about 2,400 

metric tons by 2005 (3, 5). 

3. What are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos?

People may be exposed to asbestos in their workplace, their communities, or their homes. If products 

containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When asbestos fibers are 

breathed in, they may get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time. Over time, these fibers can 

accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation, which can affect breathing and lead to serious health 

problems (6). 

Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (2, 

3, 7, 8). Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of lung cancer and 

mesothelioma (a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen). Although 

rare, mesothelioma is the most common form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. In addition to lung 

cancer and mesothelioma, some studies have suggested an association between asbestos exposure and 

gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, as well as an elevated risk for cancers of the throat, kidney, 

esophagus, and gallbladder (3, 4). However, the evidence is inconclusive. 

Asbestos exposure may also increase the risk of asbestosis (an inflammatory condition affecting the lungs that 

can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage) and other nonmalignant lung and 

pleural disorders, including pleural plaques (changes in the membranes surrounding the lung), pleural 

thickening, and benign pleural effusions (abnormal collections of fluid between the thin layers of tissue lining 

the lungs and the wall of the chest cavity). Although pleural plaques are not precursors to lung cancer, 

evidence suggests that people with pleural disease caused by exposure to asbestos may be at increased risk 

for lung cancer (2, 9). 

4. Who is at risk for an asbestos-related disease?

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their life. Low levels of asbestos are present in the air, 

water, and soil. However, most people do not become ill from their exposure. People who become ill from 

asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work 

directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact. 

Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos. Health hazards from 

asbestos fibers have been recognized in workers exposed in the shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and 

milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction 

and building trades, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, asbestos removal 

workers, firefighters, and automobile workers also may be exposed to asbestos fibers. Studies evaluating the 

cancer risk experienced by automobile mechanics exposed to asbestos through brake repair are limited, but 

the overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure (3, 8). As a result of Government 

regulations and improved work practices, today’s workers (those without previous exposure) are likely to face 

smaller risks than did those exposed in the past. 
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Individuals involved in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup at the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks on 

the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City are another group at risk of developing an asbestos-related 

disease. Because asbestos was used in the construction of the North Tower of the WTC, when the building was 

attacked, hundreds of tons of asbestos were released into the atmosphere. Those at greatest risk include 

firefighters, police officers, paramedics, construction workers, and volunteers who worked in the rubble at 

Ground Zero. Others at risk include residents in close proximity to the WTC towers and those who attended 

schools nearby. These individuals will need to be followed to determine the long-term health consequences of 

their exposure (10). 

One study found that nearly 70 percent of WTC rescue and recovery workers suffered new or worsened 

respiratory symptoms while performing work at the WTC site. The study describes the results of the WTC 

Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program, which was established to identify and characterize possible 

WTC-related health effects in responders. The study found that about 28 percent of those tested had 

abnormal lung function tests, and 61 percent of those without previous health problems developed respiratory 

symptoms (11). However, it is important to note that these symptoms may be related to exposure to debris 

components other than asbestos. 

Although it is clear that the health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier exposure and longer 

exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only brief exposures. 

Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after their first 

exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear 

(2). 

There is some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of 

developing mesothelioma (6). This risk is thought to result from exposure to asbestos fibers brought into the 

home on the shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of workers. To decrease these exposures, Federal law regulates 

workplace practices to limit the possibility of asbestos being brought home in this way. Some employees may 

be required to shower and change their clothes before they leave work, store their street clothes in a separate 

area of the workplace, or wash their work clothes at home separately from other clothes (2). 

Cases of mesothelioma have also been seen in individuals without occupational asbestos exposure who live 

close to asbestos mines (6). 

5. What factors affect the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease?

Several factors can help to determine how asbestos exposure affects an individual, including (2, 6):

• Dose (how much asbestos an individual was exposed to). 

• Duration (how long an individual was exposed). 

• Size, shape, and chemical makeup of the asbestos fibers. 

• Source of the exposure. 

• Individual risk factors, such as smoking and pre-existing lung disease. 

Although all forms of asbestos are considered hazardous, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated 

with different health risks. For example, the results of several studies suggest that amphibole forms of 

asbestos may be more harmful than chrysotile, particularly for mesothelioma risk, because they tend to stay 

in the lungs for a longer period of time (1, 2). 

6. How does smoking affect risk?

Many studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. 

Smokers who are also exposed to asbestos have a risk of developing lung cancer that is greater than the 

individual risks from asbestos and smoking added together (3, 6). There is evidence that quitting smoking will 

reduce the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers (4). Smoking combined with asbestos 

exposure does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma (9). However, people who were exposed to 

asbestos on the job at any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not 

smoke. 
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7. How are asbestos-related diseases detected?

Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos fibers on the job, 

through the environment, or at home via a family contact should inform their doctor about their exposure 

history and whether or not they experience any symptoms. The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may 

not become apparent for many decades after the exposure. It is particularly important to check with a doctor 

if any of the following symptoms develop (6): 

• Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness. 

• A persistent cough that gets worse over time. 

• Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs. 

• Pain or tightening in the chest. 

• Difficulty swallowing. 

• Swelling of the neck or face. 

• Loss of appetite. 

• Weight loss. 

• Fatigue or anemia. 

A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be recommended. The 

chest x-ray is currently the most common tool used to detect asbestos-related diseases. However, it is 

important to note that chest x-rays cannot detect asbestos fibers in the lungs, but they can help identify any 

early signs of lung disease resulting from asbestos exposure (2). 

Studies have shown that computed tomography (CT) (a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body 

taken from different angles; the pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine) may be more 

effective than conventional chest x-rays at detecting asbestos-related lung abnormalities in individuals who 

have been exposed to asbestos (12). 

A lung biopsy, which detects microscopic asbestos fibers in pieces of lung tissue removed by surgery, is the 

most reliable test to confirm the presence of asbestos-related abnormalities. A bronchoscopy is a less invasive 

test than a biopsy and detects asbestos fibers in material that is rinsed out of the lungs. It is important to 

note that these tests cannot determine how much asbestos an individual may have been exposed to or 

whether disease will develop (12). Asbestos fibers can also be detected in urine, mucus, or feces, but these 

tests are not reliable for determining how much asbestos may be in an individual’s lungs (2). 

8. How can workers protect themselves from asbestos exposure?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a component of the U.S. Department of 

Labor (DOL) and is the Federal agency responsible for health and safety regulations in maritime, construction, 

manufacturing, and service workplaces. OSHA established regulations dealing with asbestos exposure on the 

job, specifically in construction work, shipyards, and general industry, that employers are required to follow. 

In addition, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), another component of the DOL, enforces 

regulations related to mine safety. Workers should use all protective equipment provided by their employers 

and follow recommended workplace practices and safety procedures. For example, National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved respirators that fit properly should be worn by workers 

when required. 

Workers who are concerned about asbestos exposure in the workplace should discuss the situation with other 

employees, their employee health and safety representative, and their employers. If necessary, OSHA can 

provide more information or make an inspection. Regional offices of OSHA are listed in the “United States 

Government” section of a telephone directory’s blue pages (under “Department of Labor”). Regional offices 

can also be found at http://www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html. 

More information about asbestos is available on the OSHA Asbestos Web page, which has links to information 

about asbestos in the workplace, including what OSHA standards apply, the hazards of asbestos, evaluating 

asbestos exposure, and controls used to protect workers. This page is available at 

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html. OSHA’s national office can be contacted at: 
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Organization: Office of Public Affairs

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

Address: Room N–3649

200 Constitution Avenue, NW.

Washington, DC 20210

Telephone: 202–693–1999

1–800–321–6742 (1–800–321–OSHA)

TTY (for deaf or 

hard of hearing callers): 1–877–889–5627

Web site: http://www.osha.gov/workers.html (workers’ page)

Mine workers can contact MSHA at: 

Organization: Office of Public Affairs

Mine Safety and Health Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

Address: 21st Floor

1100 Wilson Boulevard

Arlington, VA 22209

Telephone: 202–693–9400

1–800–746–1553

Web site: http://www.msha.gov

http://www.msha.gov/codeaphone/codeaphonenew.htm

(National Hazard Reporting Page)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is another Federal agency that is concerned with asbestos exposure in 

the workplace. NIOSH conducts asbestos-related research, evaluates work sites for possible health hazards, 

and makes exposure control recommendations. In addition, NIOSH distributes publications on the health 

effects of asbestos exposure and can suggest additional sources of information. NIOSH can be contacted at: 

Organization: Education and Information Division

Information Resources Branch

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Address: 4676 Columbia Parkway

Cincinnati, OH 45226

Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–7636)

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh

9. What programs are available to help individuals with asbestos-related diseases?

Some people with asbestos-related illness may be eligible for Medicare coverage. Information about benefits 

is available from Medicare’s Regional Offices, located in 10 major cities across the United States and serving 

specific geographic areas. The Regional Offices serve as the agency’s initial point of contact for beneficiaries, 

health care providers, state and local governments, and the general public. Contact information for each 

Regional Office can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/regionaloffices. General information about Medicare 

is available by calling toll-free 1–800–633–4227 (1–800–MEDICARE) or visiting http://www.medicare.gov. 

People with occupational asbestos-related diseases also may qualify for financial help, including medical 

payments, under state workers’ compensation laws. Because eligibility requirements vary from state to state, 

workers employed by private companies or by state and local government agencies should contact their state 

workers’ compensation board. Contact information for state workers’ compensation officials may be found in 

the blue pages of a local telephone directory or at http://www.dol.gov/owcp/owcpkeyp.htm. 

If exposure occurred during employment with a Federal agency, medical expenses and other compensation 

may be covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program, which is administered by the DOL, 

Employment Standards Administration’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. This program 

provides workers’ compensation benefits to Federal (civilian) employees for employment-related injuries and 

diseases. Benefits include wage replacement, payment for medical care, and, where necessary, medical and 
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vocational rehabilitation assistance in returning to work. Benefits may also be provided to dependents if the 

injury or disease causes the employee’s death. The program has 12 district offices nationwide. 

In addition, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Program provides benefits to 

longshoremen, harbor workers, other maritime workers, and other classes of private industry workers who are 

injured during the course of employment or suffer from diseases caused or worsened by conditions of 

employment. Information about eligibility and how to file a claim for benefits under either of these programs 

is available from: 

Organization: Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Employment Standards Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

Address: Frances Perkins Building

200 Constitution Avenue, NW.

Washington, DC 20210

Telephone: 1–866–692–7487 (1–866–OWCPIVR)

202–693–0040 (Federal Employees’ Compensation Program)

202–693–0038 (Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation 

Program)

E-mail: OWCP-Public@dol.gov

Web site: http://www.dol.gov/owcp

Eligible veterans may receive health care at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center for an 

asbestos-related disease. Veterans can receive treatment for service-connected and nonservice-connected 

medical conditions. Information about eligibility and benefits is available from the VA Health Benefits Service 

Center at 1–877–222–8387 (1–877–222–VETS) or on the VA Web site at

http://www1.va.gov/health/index.asp.

10. Is there Federal legislation to help victims of asbestos-related diseases?

No Federal legislation has been enacted to compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases or to protect 

people from asbestos exposure. However, a bill called the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act, or FAIR 

Act, has been introduced in Congress several times. This bill would create a national trust fund to compensate 

victims suffering from asbestos-related diseases. The proposed trust fund would be administered by the DOL, 

outside of the courts, through a claims process in which all individuals with certain medical symptoms and 

evidence of asbestos-related disease would be compensated. Funding for the trust would come from insurance 

companies and companies that mined, manufactured, and sold asbestos or asbestos products. Under the bill, 

individuals affected by asbestos exposure would no longer be able to pursue awards for damages in any 

Federal or state court. 

11. What other organizations offer information related to asbestos exposure?

The organizations listed below can provide more information about asbestos exposure. 

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is the principal Federal agency 

responsible for evaluating the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. This agency works 

in close collaboration with local, state, and other Federal agencies, with tribal governments, and with 

communities and local health care providers to help prevent or reduce harmful human health effects from 

exposure to hazardous substances. The ATSDR provides information about asbestos and where to find 

occupational and environmental health clinics. The ATSDR can be contacted at: 

Organization: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Address: 4770 Buford Highway, NE.

Atlanta, GA 30341

Telephone: 1–800–232–4636 (1–800–CDC–INFO)

TTY: 1–888–232–6348

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Web site: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the general public’s exposure to asbestos in 

buildings, drinking water, and the environment. The EPA offers a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Hotline 
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and an Asbestos Ombudsman. The TSCA Hotline provides technical assistance and information about asbestos 

programs implemented under the TSCA, which include the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act and the 

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. The Asbestos Ombudsman focuses on asbestos in schools and 

handles questions and complaints. Both the TSCA Hotline and the Asbestos Ombudsman can provide 

publications on a number of topics, particularly on controlling asbestos exposure in schools and other 

buildings. The Ombudsman operates a toll-free hotline for small businesses, trade associations, and others 

seeking free, confidential help. 

The EPA Web site includes a list of EPA regional and state asbestos contacts at 

http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/regioncontact.html. In addition, EPA’s Asbestos and Vermiculite home 

page provides information about asbestos and its health effects and links to asbestos 

resources, including suggestions for homeowners who suspect asbestos in their homes, and laws and 

regulations applicable to asbestos. This page can be found at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos. Questions may be 

directed to: 

Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA West Building

National Program Chemicals Division

Address: Mail Code 7404T

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Washington, DC 20460

TSCA Hotline: 202–554–1404

TTY: 202–554–0551

Asbestos Ombudsman: 1–800–368–5888

E-mail: tsca-hotline@epa.gov

Web site: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos

Another EPA resource that may be of interest is the brochure titled Current Best Practices for Preventing 

Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers. Released in April 2007, this brochure includes 

work practices for both automotive professionals and home mechanics that may be used to avoid asbestos 

exposure. It also summarizes existing OSHA regulatory requirements for professional auto mechanics. The 

brochure can be found at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/brakesbrochure.html.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for protecting the public from 

unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products, including 

asbestos, under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC maintains a toll-free 24-hour hotline where callers can 

obtain product safety and other agency information and report unsafe products. In addition, CPSC publications 

provide guidelines for repairing and removing asbestos, and general information about asbestos in the home. 

CPSC can be contacted at: 

Organization: Office of Information and Public Affairs

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Address: 4330 East West Highway

Bethesda, MD 20814

Telephone: 1–800–638–2772

TTY: 1–800–638–8270

Web site: http://www.cpsc.gov/

Individuals can also contact their local or state health department with questions or concerns about asbestos.

Selected References

1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. What Is Asbestos? Retrieved April 10, 2009,

from: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/more_about_asbestos/what_is_asbestos. 

2. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Asbestos. September 2001. 

Retrieved April 10, 2009, from: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp61.pdf. 
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3. National Toxicology Program. Asbestos. In: Report on Carcinogens. Eleventh Edition. U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program, 2005. Retrieved April 10, 

2009, from: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/eleventh/profiles/s016asbe.pdf. 

4. Ullrich RL. Etiology of cancer: Physical factors. In: DeVita VT Jr., Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, editors. Cancer: 

Principles and Practice of Oncology. Vol. 1 and 2. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004. 

5. U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries 2006: Asbestos. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from: 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2006/mcs2006.pdf. 

6. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Asbestos: Health Effects. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from: 

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/asbestos/health_effects/index.html. 

7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health Effects Assessment for Asbestos. September 1984. EPA/540/

1-86/049 (NTIS PB86134608). Retrieved April 10, 2009, from: 

http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=40602. 

8. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Asbestos. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic 

Risks to Humans, vol. 14. Lyon, France. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from: 

http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol14/volume14.pdf. 

9. O’Reilly KMA, McLaughlin AM, Beckett WS, et al. Asbestos-related lung disease. American Family Physician

2007; 75(5):683–688.

10. Landrigan PJ, Lioy PJ, Thurston G, et al. Health and environmental consequences of the World Trade Center 

disaster. Environmental Health Perspectives 2004; 112(6):731–739. 

11. Herbert R, Moline J, Skloot G, et al. The World Trade Center disaster and the health of workers: Five-year 

assessment of a unique medical screening program. Environmental Health Perspectives 2006; 114(12): 

1853–1858. 

12. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Asbestos: Working with Patients: Diagnosis. Retrieved 

April 10, 2009, from: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/medical_community/working_with_patients. 

# # #

Related NCI materials and Web pages:

• Lung Cancer Home Page (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung) 

• Malignant Mesothelioma Home Page (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/malignantmesothelioma) 

• What You Need To Know AboutTM Lung Cancer (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/lung) 

How can we help?

We offer comprehensive research-based information for patients and their families, health professionals, cancer 

researchers, advocates, and the public.

• Call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237)

• Visit us at http://www.cancer.gov or http://www.cancer.gov/espanol

• Chat using LiveHelp, NCI’s instant messaging service, at http://www.cancer.gov/livehelp

• E-mail us at cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov

• Order publications at http://www.cancer.gov/publications or by calling 1–800–4–CANCER

• Get help with quitting smoking at 1–877–44U–QUIT (1–877–448–7848)

This fact sheet was reviewed on 5/1/09