You find out that you’ve been exposed to asbestos. Maybe it was on a job site or maybe it was discovered in your home. Either way, you know you’ve been exposed in the last year.
That sounds like a long time, and you start keeping an eye on your health. You want to know if you’re developing mesothelioma, a very dangerous type of cancer, or some other similar disease. But how long is it going to take before you get a diagnosis? Do you ever know that you’re now in the clear because it’s been so long?
A diagnosis can take decades
Unfortunately, you can never be 100% sure that you’re in the clear. Once you’ve been exposed to asbestos, there is a chance that you could develop mesothelioma. A year may feel like a long time, but it can often take decades for mesothelioma to actually develop. There is no point in time when you can definitively say that it is no longer going to happen to you.
This is also why it is so important to stay vigilant and keep a close eye on your health for the rest of your life. As soon as you see any signs that you may have cancer or another disease, then you want to talk to your health care provider. Many of these diseases are easiest to treat when you discover them as early as possible, so getting that diagnosis quickly – even if it’s two or three decades after the exposure – could prove to be a lifesaver.
As you navigate this challenging situation in your life, you also need to make sure that you’re well aware of your legal options. There may be compensation available to you through legal means.