Laryngeal Cancer and Asbestos- Does Asbestos Exposure Lead to Laryngeal Cancer?
A very rare disease, laryngeal cancer or cancer of the larynx is believed to have been caused by exposure to asbestos. However, recent medical literature suggests that asbestos exposure is a possible risk factor but no substantial data that can prove the exact relation of asbestos with laryngeal cancer. But this still does not change the fact that in the future, certain data could establish the possibility that asbestos could really lead to laryngeal cancer.
There are a number of asbestos-related diseases that might develop once an individual is exposed sufficiently to high degrees of asbestos fiber. This is because exposure to asbestos works on the dosage-response principle where only a certain quantity must be met before one's healthy reaches the hazard point. Otherwise, the person is safe, at least for a while. But with a continuous exposure even to low level of asbestos fiber might still end up with developing diseases.
The latency period of most asbestos cancer, including laryngeal cancer, is somewhere between 20 to 50 years or so. The minimum length of time if 5 years. So this means that symptoms of laryngeal cancer or any cancer in that case, will only surface after several years of the first infliction. This is the main reason why most patients of asbestos-related cancers are not aware of their diseases unless early diagnosis is administered.
Everyone who gets close contact with asbestos could possibly inhale asbestos fiber. But those who are most exposed would likely develop diseases faster. However, exposure alone is not reason enough for a person to contract disease. As we have earlier said, one should be exposed to a relatively high level of asbestos fiber before his or her body begins to react. With continuous exposure one's a greater risk of being ill 20 to 50 years ahead. Even families of the person who were directly in contact with asbestos fiber might suffer from risk factors.
