Does Smoking Increase My Risk Of Developing Mesothelioma In Louisiana

While mesothelioma is only caused by asbestos exposure, not cigarette smoking, the combination of exposure to asbestos and the continued attack on the lungs caused by cigarettes can increase your risk of developing mesothelioma cancer by as much as 90{d37eae5b8410ed8fb22098597e6ecfa689963c7e8a6548fdf24949bed3e82123}.

Because mesothelioma is a rare cancer, the fact of the matter when it comes to smoking and asbestos is that even doubling your risk of developing mesothelioma is a minor concern compared to the enormous health risk posed by cigarettes all by themselves.

Cigarettes are the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and while they contribute to your mesothelioma risk if you’ve been exposed to asbestos in the past, the larger concern is the lung cancer risk they pose. If you are a smoker, there is simply nothing better you can do for your health than to quit.

For smokers who develop mesothelioma, there are often concerns that their history of smoking may impact their ability to access Veterans Administration benefits, or asbestos trust funds that have been created by corporations with a history of asbestos use.

Again, because mesothelioma is an asbestos-caused cancer, your history as a smoker will not impact your ability to collect damages from a past employer who poisoned you with toxic asbestos, or your right to file a claim with the VA for the additional benefits that you and your family are entitled to after service-related asbestos exposure.

At The Gertler Law Firm, we help families in Louisiana as they fight mesothelioma. Our team of knowledgeable, experienced mesothelioma attorneys can help connect you with funds established for mesothelioma victims and VA benefits created exactly for families like yours. Call us today at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation.