Asbestos Exposure, a Potential Risk Factor in Floor of the Mouth Cancer

The contribution of occupational exposure to various cancers remains insufficiently considered, although several medical studies today underline the relationship between such exposure and cancerous tumors.

Although asbestos has been proven a carcinogen since the 1970s, the industry chose to disregard medical evidence and warnings to maximize profits. The fibrous mineral's versatility offered opportunities that outweighed health concerns, and nobody considered protective measures when handling the toxic material.

The military industry also banked on using asbestos-containing products as the WW2 effort demanded ample material supplies at accessible prices. Asbestos fit the bill, and asbestos-containing products were applied in many military properties, especially on vessels built for the Navy. As a result, naval personnel faced a high risk of asbestos exposure onboard ships built before the 1980s, and a considerable number of Navy veterans were diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions decades after their service.

Inhaling or ingesting airborne asbestos fibers poses the risk of developing benign or malignant illnesses, among them the floor of the mouth cancer, also known as mouth cancer. It's a type of head and neck cancer that forms when the cells that make up the floor of the mouth grow out of control and form lesions or tumors. The floor of the mouth is the horseshoe-shaped area under the tongue.

Asbestos Fibers May Cause Cancer in the Oral Cavity

Mouth cancers are generally classified as head and neck cancers, a group denomination that covers tumors developing in the upper part of the digestive and respiratory systems.

In 90% of cases, head and neck cancers are invasive squamous cell carcinomas, indicating that the malignant tumors initially begin in the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the mouth. The most common presentation of the floor of the mouth cancer is a painless, inflamed, superficial ulcer with poorly defined margins.

Studies associated asbestos exposure with an increased risk of cancer of the oral cavity. More recently, in a case-control study of 190 cases and 203 controls in the US general population, researchers found a significant risk of oral cancer in association with asbestos exposure in men. Besides occupational toxic exposure, other risk factors may also increase the chances of tumor development in the oral cavity:

• tobacco and alcohol consumption
• human papilloma virus (HPV)
• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
• family history of mouth cancers
• poor oral hygiene and gum disease

The floor of the mouth cancer often looks like an ulcer and is painless; people mistake this for a cancer sore, and by the time a patient is diagnosed, the tumor has expanded into the neck. Other symptoms of floor of mouth cancer may include:

• sores in the mouth that won't heal
• red, white, or dark patches inside the mouth
• difficulty moving the jaw
• jaw pain or swelling
• severe ear pain
• lumps in the neck
• loose teeth or gum pain
• difficult or painful swallowing
• changes in speech
• bleeding or numbness in the mouth
• unexplained weight loss

Diagnosis of floor of the mouth cancer usually includes a thorough visual examination of the inside of the mouth and cheeks to check the location and size of the tumor. Physical examination of the nose, ears, throat, and neck also helps determine if the cancer has invaded their tissue. To determine an exact diagnosis, the doctor may also order tests, such as:

• blood test
• fine needle aspiration biopsy
• chest X-rays

Imaging tests help discover if the cancer has spread to tissues nearby or other organs of the body:

• panoramic X-ray of the jaw (Panorex)
• CT scan
• MRI
• PET scan

It is essential to know that presumption of service connection, and therefore claim eligibility, is not warranted for cancer of the oral cavity, including the floor of the mouth cancer. Other cancers mentioned below have a more direct connection with asbestos exposure and qualify veterans for compensation. Even so, this type of cancer may be a sign that malignant processes stemming from exposure to asbestos dust have begun, and veterans' health must be monitored accordingly.

Asbestos Diseases Are Often Misdiagnosed as Common Illnesses

Health conditions associated with asbestos exposure are complicated, and their complexity may cause doctors to misread the symptoms and establish misleading diagnoses. Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers deteriorate veterans' health only after decades; thus, they are usually discovered in the advanced stages. Moreover, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases strongly resemble those of common respiratory conditions, further complicating their exact evaluation.

Given that an incorrect diagnosis and treatment wastes precious time when time is of the essence, veterans should opt for a second or third doctor's opinion outside the VA. Mentioning your time in the military can considerably narrow the diagnostic possibilities, so being upfront about possible asbestos exposure during service could help in revealing non-cancerous asbestos diseases such as:

• pulmonary fibrosis
• asbestosis
• recurrent pneumonia
• emphysema
• rounded atelectasis
• chronic bronchitis
• pleural effusion
• pleural plaques
• pleural thickening
• COPD
• lung nodules and spots
• asthma

Although these conditions don't qualify a veteran for compensation, they should be regularly monitored because they tend to develop into cancer. Chest X-rays and pulmonary function tests routinely done may detect benign asbestos illnesses turning malignant in their early stages, and a cancer diagnosis entitles veterans to file claims.

We Offer Assistance for Navy Veterans to Receive the Rightful Compensation

Due to the Navy's mandate to use asbestos in shipbuilding, the abundance of asbestos products in naval vessels built before the 1980s potentially endangered the health of every person onboard. The toxic mineral's presence on those ships led to thousands of Navy veterans having to face illnesses that irreversibly affected their health and burdened their finances.

Veterans of the Navy, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, or US Army Transport Service may qualify for indemnification from asbestos trust funds and the VA if they can show proof of asbestos exposure and have been diagnosed with the following asbestos-related cancer:

• pharyngeal cancer
• colorectal cancer
• mesothelioma
• laryngeal cancer
• esophageal cancer
• urogenital cancer
• bronchial cancer
• lung cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer

We can help by connecting you with expert asbestos attorneys ready to take on your case.