Since 1925, doctors and researchers have identified lung cancer as a possible asbestos disease. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer. The risk of developing asbestos diseases like lung cancer or mesothelioma increases with the amount of asbestos inhaled.

All four main types of asbestos (as discussed in our Types of Asbestos section) are associated with lung cancer. People who work with asbestos are more likely to develop lung cancer than people in the general population. Similar to other asbestos diseases, lung cancer has been reported among family members of asbestos workers.

Common symptoms of lung cancer are similar to those of other asbestos diseases and include:

• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Hoarseness

The American Cancer Society notes that approximately one out of every seven people who develop the asbestos disease called asbestosis will eventually develop lung cancer, which causes the most deaths of any asbestos disease.

Visit our main Mesothelioma and Asbestos Information to learn more about identifying asbestos, identifying asbestos companies, and identifying mesothelioma symptoms.