Posted on September 28, 2023
October 2nd — Part One: Prevent Asbestos Exposure
October 9th — Part Two: Recognize High-Risk Occupations
October 16th — Part Three: Understand the Warning Symptoms for Asbestos-Caused Diseases
October 23rd — Part Four: Finding a Center of Excellence for Treatment
Important Notice: ADAO does not make medical diagnoses, recommend treatment, or answer specific patient questions. Specific concerns should be addressed directly by your treating physician
October is Health Literacy Month, and at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), that means sharing our prevention initiatives with unwavering dedication. Everyone should know the “Irrefutable Facts” about preventing asbestos exposure because until researchers find a cure, the only way to stop asbestos-caused diseases is to avoid asbestos completely.
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer caused by asbestos exposure, which is also linked to asbestosis, as well as lung and gastrointestinal cancers. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause permanent and irreversible damage to vital organs. Typically, symptoms of asbestos related disease begin 10–50 years after exposure. Early detection is often difficult, as asbestos-related disease symptoms are generally vague and can be easily confused with other illnesses, such as pneumonia. Only a doctor can properly diagnose asbestos-related diseases. Your doctor will ask you about possible occupational or environmental asbestos exposure to help determine if your illness is asbestos-related.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NIH) you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- 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
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
The above symptom list is from the National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet “Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk.” Although not all asbestos exposure or disease leads to cancer, it is vital to remain aware of the risks and symptoms and to seek treatment as early as possible.
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with an asbestos-caused disease, please know that you are not alone. ADAO is a community made up of people who have gone through similar experiences and can offer their help, resources, and support. No one should go through this on their own, and we are here to help.
This is Part Three of our four-part Health Literacy Month Series. Please refer to the links at the top to see our previous Health Literacy blogs and join us next week for the final part of the series!
As we say at ADAO, “Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention.” Thank you for joining us and sharing this life-saving information during Health Literacy Month.
Linda Reinstein
ADAO does not make medical diagnoses, recommend treatment, or answer specific patient questions. Specific concerns should be addressed directly by your treating physician