Some treatments that have been used with patients include radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Patients often use oxygen and pain medication such as morphine to reduce the symptoms of the disease, which is currently incurable. Asbestosis is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Asbestosis is a chronic disease of the lungs which makes breathing progressively more difficult and can lead to death. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis and the disease can be disabling or fatal.
Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure.
People who were involved in the mining, milling and manufacturing of asbestos or the use of asbestos products show a much higher incidence of lung cancer than the general population. The most common symptoms are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness and anemia. Our office has handled claims against manufacturers of asbestos products in 17 states, including Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, California, Ohio and West Virginia.