It's time to shine a light on lung cancer

Statistics tell us that lung cancer is one of the most common and serious cancers affecting Australians. Many people are diagnosed at an advanced stage, making awareness of risk factors, symptoms, and early detection especially important.

November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the causes and symptoms of lung cancer and help improve awareness of prevention, early diagnosis and treatment options.

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer starts when abnormal cells grow and multiply in an uncontrolled way. Over time, this abnormal cell growth develops into a larger mass, which starts to invade functional parts of the lung. Doctors call this abnormal cluster of cells a “tumour”.

Symptoms of lung cancer include: 

• shortness of breath
• changes to the voice such as hoarseness
• chest pain
• coughing or spitting up blood
• recurring cough
• recurring chest infections
• enlarged fingertips
• loss of appetite
• unexplained weight loss
• tiredness
  

Smoking isn’t the only cause of lung cancer

While a staggering 90% of Australians believe that smoking is the only risk factor for lung cancer, a number of factors can increase your risk, including workplace exposure to dust and chemicals, pollution, and a family history of lung cancer.

Occupational exposure alone contributes to 29% of lung cancer cases in Australian men.

Sadly, due to a lack of education, lung cancer sufferers still face a stigma around their disease. A survey by the Lung Foundation Australia found that over a third of Australians consider those with lung cancer to be their own worst enemy, with 1 in 10 saying they “got what they deserved”.

Despite growing awareness, many people affected by lung cancer continue to experience stigma because of misconceptions about the disease. These assumptions can prevent important conversations about workplace exposure and other risk factors that may contribute to lung cancer.

Lung cancer caused by workplace silica exposure: Jeff’s Story

Jeff Marshall is just one of many Australians who has been diagnosed with lung cancer, as well as COPD, as a result of his occupational exposure to silica dust. Not long into his retirement, Jeff found himself struggling to breathe and noticed his health was rapidly deteriorating.

Jeff worked as a bricklayer for over 40 years. His job involved mixing cement and mortar, handling cement bags and cutting into bricks.  During this time, Jeff was breathing in significant quantities of silica dust without respiratory protection. It became very clear from Jeff’s work history that his bricklaying work likely contributed to his lung disease.

Jeff got in touch with us for advice, and we helped him navigate the legal process and obtain compensation for his medical expenses, and for the pain and suffering caused by condition.

Can you claim compensation for work-related lung cancer?

The lawyers in our Asbestos, Silica, and Workplace Diseases team help every day Australians suffering from a range of occupational lung diseases – including lung cancer – caused by breathing in asbestos, silica dust, fumes, gases and other hazardous chemicals at work.

We are dedicated to making sure all workers are fully supported and compensated if they find themselves diagnosed with lung cancer caused by work.

No one should find themselves in Jeff’s situation where their work has caused their lung disease, and that’s why we are equally committed to raising awareness around work-related risk factors and raising research funding to help prevent lung diseases from occurring in the first place.

Many of our clients, just like Jeff, and their families have been devastated by lung cancer, so this cause is close to our hearts.

We are here to help

Raising awareness of lung cancer can help improve prevention, encourage earlier diagnosis and support ongoing medical research.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer and believe workplace exposure may have been a contributing factor, seeking advice about your rights can help you access the support you need.

Contact us today for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.