Cancer of the Throat or Larynx
Asbestos Related Laryngeal Cancer
Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers can become trapped in cells that line the larynx—the part of the throat that contains the vocal chords causing a type of throat cancer known as laryngeal cancer. Laryngeal cancer can affect different parts of throat, affecting the vocal chords, breathing, or swallowing. Those exposed to asbestos are 2.57 times more likely to develop laryngeal cancer than those who have not been exposed. Laryngeal and throat cancer are typically associated with high levels of asbestos exposure.
Read more about signs, symptoms and treatments for asbestos-related laryngeal cancer.
This relatively rare cancer of the structure containing the vocal chords strikes just under 10,000 people each year. During a review of 50 epidemiological studies, the National Institutes of health found “compelling evidence that asbestos exposure is associated with an increased incidence of laryngeal cancer and that the risk increases with the intensity and duration of exposure.” Asbestos exposure may increase the risk of developing cancer in the voice box by more than two and a half times. Like asbestos-related lung cancer, smoking may compund the effect of the asbestos fibers in the lining of the larynx.
Shipbuilders and those who worked in navel yards (especially during WWII) were at high risk of asbestos exposure due to its widespread use throughout the construction and repair of the vessels. Asbestos was recognized as a health hazard in the 1940s, but the public was not warned until the 1960s and 1970s, when there was an alarmingly high death rate among shipyard workers.
Workers with a history of asbestos exposure may not realize the other cancerous effects that asbestos exposure can have on organs other than the lungs. Companies knowingly hid the dangers of asbestos in order to protect their assets and maintain profits. If you believe you have a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, it is important you contact an asbestos lawyer as soon as possible; the statute of limitations varies between each state, and if you do not act promptly, your window of opportunity can expire.
Companies spent decades protecting their assets instead of their employees, violating workplace conditions and denying their laborers a safe and healthy working environment. At GPW, fight to protect your rights and urge you to contact us as soon as you are aware of your diagnoses.
