People diagnosed with mesothelioma may wonder if smoking caused their cancer or could affect their legal options. But smoking doesn’t cause mesothelioma, and having smoked doesn’t prevent you from seeking compensation.
Unlike lung cancer, which is strongly linked to tobacco use, mesothelioma is only caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers can get trapped in the body after they’re breathed in or swallowed and may lead to cancer decades after exposure.
Research hasn’t found that smoking increases the risk of mesothelioma. However, smoking and asbestos exposure together can greatly increase your risk of lung cancer.
Can You Get Mesothelioma from Smoking?
No, mesothelioma is not caused by smoking. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Studies have specifically examined smoking and mesothelioma without finding a meaningful association between cigarette use and the disease.
A Cancer Research study of 124 people with malignant mesothelioma found no link between cigarette smoking and mesothelioma in either men or women. Asbestos exposure, however, was strongly linked to the disease.
Further research on mesothelioma and smoking has found:
- Only one type of cigarette filter has contained asbestos. The Kent Micronite cigarette filter contained asbestos fibers while it was manufactured between 1952 and 1956.
- Smoking does not appear to amplify the risk of mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. Researchers reviewed studies published in 5 research databases and found that smoking cigarettes after you’ve been exposed to asbestos does not appear to increase mesothelioma risk.
- Smoking can worsen the condition in those who have mesothelioma. This cancer normally forms in the lining of the lungs. Smoking can continue to damage the lungs, worsening your condition.
If you smoked and developed mesothelioma, it’s important to look at where you may have encountered asbestos, including through occupational, household, and environmental exposure. A history of smoking doesn’t let companies off the hook if their actions contributed to your asbestos exposure and illness.
Get a Free Case Review to get answers about your situation and learn what legal options may be available to you.
Does Smoking Increase the Risk of Mesothelioma?
Smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma, as researchers have found through years of clinical research. If you haven’t been exposed to asbestos, cigarettes won’t make you more likely to develop mesothelioma because asbestos exposure remains the sole cause of the disease.
Multiple studies have reached this conclusion. The Cancer Research study of 124 patients found no connection between cigarette smoking and mesothelioma in either men or women.
An Occupational and Environmental Medicine study following more than 1,600 asbestos factory workers also found no significant association between smoking and mesothelioma deaths, concluding mesothelioma risk to be independent of smoking.
“If you have mesothelioma, the odds are it’s not your fault. It wasn’t from your tobacco smoking habit if you had one, and it wasn’t from any other vice you can think of. It was probably because you were a hardworking American who went every day into work, and when you got there, you were exposed to asbestos.”
Can Nonsmokers Get Mesothelioma or Lung Cancer?
Yes, people who’ve never smoked can develop both mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The National Cancer Institute says people who live with individuals who work near asbestos have a risk of developing mesothelioma because those workers can carry the fibers home on their clothing.
Nonsmokers can also develop lung cancer. About 1 in 5 people with lung cancer have never smoked, meaning they smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.
Mesothelioma Compensation Is Available Even If You Smoked
If you smoked before your mesothelioma diagnosis, don’t assume that means you can’t seek compensation. Mesothelioma claims focus on where you were exposed to asbestos and which companies may have been responsible — not whether you smoked.
Compensation may be available through several sources:
- Asbestos trust fund claims from companies that established trusts to compensate people harmed by asbestos exposure
- Mesothelioma lawsuits against companies that may be legally responsible for asbestos exposure
- Wrongful death compensation may be available to surviving family members after an asbestos-related death
- VA disability compensation for eligible veterans with mesothelioma connected to asbestos exposure during their military service
Because asbestos claims can involve multiple sources of compensation and strict filing deadlines, speaking with our team quickly can help determine which options may be available to you or a loved one.
Mesothelioma compensation can help cover treatment costs and other expenses. Contact our team to see if you can file a claim.
Get Mesothelioma Support & Resources
A mesothelioma diagnosis can leave you facing difficult medical decisions, financial concerns, and questions about what comes next. You don’t have to navigate those challenges alone.
Our Patient Advocates can help you:
- Identify where you may have encountered asbestos
- Find local specialists for treatment
- Explore your options for financial assistance
- Sign up for our free mesothelioma support group
Call (866) 608-8933 or request a Free Case Review to learn more about your situation and how our team may be able to help.
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