Mesothelioma affects thousands of people every year. Because its earliest effects are often mistaken for the symptoms of a cold, virus or flu, it’s often not diagnosed until it has progressed beyond the treatable stage.
For that reason, anyone who worked or works in a job with a high risk of asbestos exposure should have regular medical checkups that include lung x-rays, and be especially watchful for respiratory ailments which may be the earliest symptoms of mesothelioma.
In addition, when asbestos exposure combines with smoking, your risk of developing lung cancer increases astronomically, if you were exposed to asbestos in the past and you smoke, quitting now can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer.