What To Do If You Believe You Were Exposed To Asbestos

If you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos, let your doctor know right away and provide as much detail as you can about your exposure. While it is always important to see your doctor for regular checkups and health screening, this is particularly true for anyone who has a history of asbestos exposure.

People who have been exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The risk is greater if you were exposed to a large amount of asbestos or exposed for a long period of time, but any exposure can be dangerous. In addition, the diseases caused by asbestos generally have long latency periods that take many years to develop. You may not begin to show symptoms for 10, 20, 30, or even 40 years after being exposed. This makes it particularly important to see your doctor regularly for periodic checkups, and to give your doctor as much information as possible about any past asbestos exposure.

Increased Risk Of Cancer

You should also be aware that people who have been exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing lung cancer, especially if they also have smoked cigarettes. If you smoke cigarettes, you should quit right away because of the synergistic effect of smoking and asbestos exposure. If you never smoked, or if you have stopped smoking for more than 10 years, you have reduced your risk of lung cancer considerably.

Fortunately, many former asbestos workers and others who have been exposed to asbestos in various capacities never develop any asbestos diseases. However, periodic pulmonary screening, with chest x-rays and breathing tests, as indicated by your doctor, is highly recommended as part of an ongoing surveillance program.

See You Doctor For Regular Check-ups

The best way to safeguard your health is to make an appointment to see your internist or family practitioner for a checkup. After you have discussed your exposure to asbestos with your doctor, and any symptoms you may be experiencing, your doctor will take a detailed occupational history as well as a medical history. Be sure to discuss any symptoms you may be experiencing, such as shortness of breath (SOB), difficulty breathing on exertion (dyspnea on exertion, or DOE), fatigue, and coughing.

Your doctor will then conduct a physical exam, which will include listening carefully to your chest for any abnormal sounds, such as wheezing, or a crackling sound known as "rales" often simply called "crackles", which can be an indication of scarring on the lungs. If you have not had a recent chest x-ray, the doctor will order a new set of chest films, which can then be compared to your previous films. If you are able to bring any existing chest x-rays with you to the appointment, this is always very helpful.

The doctor will also examine your hands and feet for signs of swelling. In cases of advanced lung disease, where oxygen supply to the tissue is impaired, there may be signs of cyanosis (bluish color of the skin) and "clubbing" or curling of the fingers and toes. Depending on the results of the physical exam and chest films, the doctor may order additional tests, such as a CAT scan of the chest and a baseline pulmonary function test (breathing test).

It is important that you feel free to discuss the results of this examination and the results of your tests with your doctor. If there are any abnormalities, you can also ask the doctor about a possible referral to a pulmonologist, i.e., a physician who specializes in lung conditions, for a full pulmonary workup. Such a doctor can specifically look for asbestos-related lung disease.

We urge you to pay careful attention to your doctor's recommendations and to continue to see him or her for regular checkups.