Asbestos exposure has been consistently associated with gastrointestinal cancer affecting the stomach and esophagus
Unlike people who develop respiratory diseases as a consequence of asbestos exposure, who inhale toxic fibers, those who come to struggle with gastrointestinal cancer ingest toxic fibers.
Because they have a rough texture, asbestos fibers will become embedded in the lining of the stomach and intestines, gradually causing inflammation and tissue scarring, which may eventually lead to cancer.
Asbestos is a known human carcinogen, and the body can only partly eliminate toxic fibers. The latency period of gastrointestinal cancer caused by asbestos exposure ranges between 20 and 50 years. These are the most common symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer:
- blood in the stool
- stomach pain
- a buildup of fluid in the abdomen
- nausea and vomiting
- trouble swallowing
- yellowing of the eyes and skin
- feeling bloated after eating
- unintentional weight loss
- heartburn and indigestion
If you have a history of occupational or military asbestos exposure and experience some of these symptoms, we highly recommend seeking a second and even a third opinion from medical specialists, as the misdiagnosis rate is high among toxic exposure victims. If you have a gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis, our skilled attorneys may be able to obtain financial compensation for you from asbestos trust funds and, if you are a veteran, also from the VA.
Secondary asbestos exposure may also cause gastrointestinal cancer
During the last century, when the hazardous nature of asbestos was kept hidden from industrial workers, employees would often return home after a day of work covered in asbestos dust. This way, they would inevitably expose their family members to the carcinogenic mineral.
Some ways family members would come in contact with asbestos was by hugging the industrial worker and shaking out their asbestos-laden clothes before laundering them.
Although secondary asbestos exposure implies a lower risk of gastrointestinal cancer, family members can still develop it.
If you are in this unfortunate situation, you should also contact our attorneys, as you may be eligible to file a toxic exposure claim with asbestos trust funds. You will have to provide our legal team with the employment records of your family member who handled asbestos on the job and proof that you lived together. Our skilled attorneys will carefully assess your case and determine whether you are entitled to compensation, and if you are, they will promptly begin working on your claim. Eventually, if everything goes in our favor, you will obtain the money you deserve.
Our specialized attorneys can help you file a wrongful death claim if you lost a family member
Often, toxic exposure victims fail to recover the compensation they are entitled to from the liable companies because they are afraid of a never-ending legal process or because they pass away without having the chance to file a claim. However, the surviving family members can step in when this is the case. With over 25 years of experience in toxic exposure, our attorneys will do all in their power to help you file a wrongful death claim on behalf of your deceased loved one.
The only documents we will request are the employment or military records of your family member, which you must retrieve, their medical records stating their gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis, and their death certificate. We will determine whether you qualify to file a wrongful death claim and if you do, our legal team will begin preparing it. If our endeavors are successful, you will obtain a part of the compensation your loved one would have received.