Asbestos is also considered a potential primary cause for lung cancer - cancer of the lung tissue itself not the membrane surrounding it. As with mesothelioma, you may not experience symptoms of the disease for many years, even decades. Also the combination of smoking and asbestos greatly increases your risk of developing lung cancer. Although lung cancer usually develops slowly, once it occurs, it can metastasize whereby the cells break away and spread to other parts of the body.

Some early symptoms of lung cancer are a persistent cough, chest pain, hoarseness, weight loss, and bloody or rust-colored phlegm. However, these symptoms could also indicate other diseases.

If a diagnosis confirms you have the disease, your treatment options include surgery, in which your physician can remove anywhere from a small segment of your lung to a lobe or even the entire lung. Other treatment options are chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapy, which use drugs to block the growth and spread of cancer cells. These treatments may be used alone or in combination.

Treatment for Asbestosis

There is no cure for asbestosis. The goal is to prevent progression and alleviate symptoms of the disease. As the first step to stop progression of the disease, you need to avoid further exposure to asbestos.

Among the supportive treatment options, oxygen therapy for example can relieve shortness of breath. To ease symptoms, postural drainage (systematic withdrawal of fluids form the lungs), chest percussion, and vibration can help remove secretions. Doctors also may prescribe aerosol medications to thin lung secretions or in severe cases, recommend a lung transplant.

Pain management is another consideration. Doctors can advise you about over-the-counter medications or treat you with prescription drugs if the pain is extremely severe. You may even want to consider alternative therapies such as homeopathy, acupuncture and herbal medications, which may also provide some symptomatic relief.