Although most commonly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma, evidence has linked asbestos exposure several other forms of cancer, including stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer and colorectal cancer.
A 2006 study by the Institute of Medicine found that exposure to asbestos could cause individuals to develop cancer of the larynx, the structure that houses the vocal chords. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 9,500 new cases of laryngeal cancer and about 3,700 deaths attributable to the disease occur each year, including some involving exposure to asbestos.
Researchers have also uncovered evidence linking asbestos and cancer affecting other parts of the body. A 2005 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology (PDF) found that patients who were exposed to asbestos were more likely to develop colorectal cancer than those who had not been exposed. Other studies published by the National Academies Press have uncovered evidence linking asbestos exposure to stomach cancer, esophageal cancer and pharyngeal cancer.
While lung cancer and mesothelioma have had a devastating effect on thousands of asbestos exposure victims, the research of the Institute of Medicine and other groups plays an important role in bringing attention to the plight of those affected by other cancers linked to exposure to asbestos.
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