Colorectal Cancer

Scientists and medical professionals have known for many years that asbestos, a known human carcinogen, causes a variety of terminal diseases. While cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer comprise the majority of asbestos-related cancers, colorectal cancer has also been linked to asbestos exposure. By the early 1960s, scientists began to observe links between colorectal cancer and exposure to asbestos, but for many years there was little evidence to support these claims. Although there is no definitive proof that asbestos causes colorectal cancer in humans, the findings of several studies at prestigious universities have led scientists to conclude that there may be a correlation, and even a causal relationship, between exposure to asbestos and the development of colorectal cancer.

Although the use of asbestos in construction materials and other products is considerably less than decades past, each year more and more asbestos-related diagnoses are made. This time discrepancy results from the fact that asbestos-related diseases typically take many years to develop and present symptoms. Each year, nearly 10,000 Americans die from illnesses related to asbestos exposure. To read about other cancers caused by asbestos, please see Other Asbestos Cancers.

Of the thousands of people who have been stricken with preventable asbestos-related diseases, many may have succumbed to colorectal cancer. Because doctors did not associate colorectal cancer with asbestos for many years, numerous victims of the asbestos industry may have slipped through the cracks, unable to make a claim against those who injured them and unable to afford the treatment necessary for their survival.

Colorectal cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the United States, following lung cancer. Colorectal cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the rectum or colon begin to divide abnormally, rapidly, and uncontrollably. The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 108,070 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2008, and some of these cases may have developed as a result of exposure to asbestos.

Studies conducted by the American Journal of Epidemiology found that smokers who have been exposed to asbestos have a 36 percent increased risk of developing colorectal cancer than smokers who have not been exposed to asbestos. This study also found those who developed pulmonary asbestosis suffered a higher incidence of colorectal cancer than those not afflicted by asbestosis. These findings serve as strong evidence for a possible correlation or causal relationship between exposure to asbestos and colorectal cancer.

There are a number of factors that may play a significant role in the risk of developing colorectal cancer after exposure to asbestos. One factor is the amount of asbestos a person is exposed to, as well as the amount of time a person experiences exposure to asbestos. Additionally, a person's health and medical history play a role in the risk of development. Smokers are at a much greater risk of developing any cancer, including colorectal cancers associated with exposure to asbestos. A healthy person with a strong resistance to disease and illness may have a decreased risk for the development of cancers following such an exposure, although the risk still exists.

Many people with colon cancer will present no symptoms during the early stages of development. Some symptoms that commonly occur include blood in stool, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. It may be particularly difficult to diagnose colorectal cancer in those who have been exposed to asbestos, as cancers related to asbestos may take many years or even decades to present symptoms. Doctors agree that in the case of colorectal cancer, preventative screenings are important for everyone, not just those who have been exposed to asbestos. Those who believe they may be at risk for developing colorectal cancer (or may have been exposed to asbestos) should see a physician for proper screening. The advice of a mesothelioma lawyer should also be sought, as these professionals help victims of the asbestos industry afford the expensive treatments required to treat asbestos-related diseases.

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