Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum, the large bowel. Asbestos exposure has been linked to a modest increase in risk, and IARC has found limited evidence that asbestos causes it. Asbestos trusts treat it as an "other cancer," a category that pays only in narrow circumstances.
Origin
Studies of heavily exposed insulation workers from the 1960s onward reported more colon cancers than expected, and swallowed fibers cleared from the lungs were suggested as a route. Later reviews, including the U.S. Institute of Medicine in 2006 and IARC in 2012, judged the evidence suggestive or limited rather than sufficient.
Significance in Asbestos Context
Colorectal cancer is common in the general population, and age, diet, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, family history and inherited syndromes are its main risk factors, so proving that asbestos caused a particular case is difficult. The asbestos link is strongest in workers with very heavy exposure. In the trust system, colorectal cancer falls in the "other cancer" category, which generally requires evidence of asbestosis or bilateral pleural disease as well as exposure; without that, these claims are usually denied, and the rare approvals pay very little. Lawsuits are possible in some cases but depend on strong exposure evidence and expert support. Screening by colonoscopy is recommended for most adults, and people with a history of heavy asbestos exposure should make sure their doctors know it.
Example Sentence
He was diagnosed with colon cancer after forty years as an insulator, and his chest CT also showed bilateral pleural plaques.
Related Terms
IARC Classification, Adenocarcinoma, Endoscopy, Pleural Plaques, Asbestosis, Bankruptcy Trust Claim, Specific Causation
Notes
- Ask your doctors to check for and record any signs of asbestos-related lung or pleural disease, which trusts require for this cancer.
- Keep the pathology report and colonoscopy reports.
- Tell your lawyer about family history of colon cancer and any genetic test results; they will be raised.
In the research library
201 studies in our medical research library mention Colorectal Cancer in the title or abstract. Among the most cited:
- Colon cancer, physical activity, and occupational exposures. A case-control studyM. Fredriksson, N.O. Bengtsson, L. Hardell, et al, 1989 · Cancer · cited 104 times
- Relation of soft-tissue sarcoma, malignant lymphoma and colon cancer to phenoxy acids, chlorophenols and other agentsL. Hardell, 1981 · Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health · cited 97 times
- The novel BH3 α-helix mimetic JY-1-106 induces apoptosis in a subset of cancer cells (lung cancer, colon cancer and mesothelioma) by disrupting Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 protein-protein interactions with BakX. Cao, J.L. Yap, M.K. Newell-Rogers, et al, 2013 · Molecular Cancer · cited 70 times
- Occupational exposures and colorectal cancers: a quantitative overview of epidemiological evidenceE. Oddone, C. Modonesi, G. Gatta, 2014 · World Journal of Gastroenterology · cited 53 times
- Antioxidants in the chemoprevention of colorectal cancer and colorectal adenomas in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysisD. Papaioannou, K.L. Cooper, C. Carroll, et al, 2011 · Colorectal Disease · cited 50 times
The journals that publish most on it: Occupational and Environmental Medicine (11), American Journal of Industrial Medicine (10), Annals of Surgical Oncology (7).
Category: Diseases & Conditions · All Lexicon terms A–Z
This page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every asbestos case turns on its own facts, exposure history, diagnosis, deadlines, available evidence, and applicable law. Reviewing this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, call 833-4-ASBESTOS for a free case review.