The greatest danger of exposure to asbestos, cancer, may be most well-known in the form of mesothelioma, which usually occurs in the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen. However, other types of cancer can be caused by asbestos. Cancers caused by asbestos include those in the lungs, throat, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys, but the risk for most of these is small. The risk of lung cancer among those exposed to asbestos is seven times greater than the risk of the general population. Among people with heavy exposure to asbestos, cancer of the lungs, asbestosis, and mesothelioma are the three most frequent causes of death.

After exposure to asbestos, asbestos cancer and mesothelioma can develop when cells grow uncontrollably. Researchers believe this could be the result of asbestos fibers damaging the person's DNA, but they are still studying exactly how asbestos causes cells to develop into cancer. Read more about how asbestos causes cancer in our mesothelioma cancer section.

Risk of developing mesothelioma and asbestos cancer directly relates to the amount of asbestos a person is exposed to and the period of time of exposure. Asbestos cancer and mesothelioma risk is greatest in:

• Those exposed to asbestos at a young age
• Those exposed to asbestos for a long period of time
• Those exposed to high levels of asbestos

After exposure to asbestos, cancer may not develop for 20 to 50 years. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos at some point, you may be at risk for developing cancer. To begin learning more about asbestos and this rare cancer visit our main Mesothelioma and Asbestos Information page.