What cancer is linked to asbestos?

• A. Mesothelioma
• B. Lung carcinoma
• C. Liver cancer
• D. Skin cancer

Answer: (A)

Asbestos exposure is classically tied to mesothelioma, a cancer of the mesothelial cells that line the lungs and other organs. The inhaled asbestos fibers lodge in the pleural lining (around the lungs) or the peritoneal lining (around the abdomen), causing chronic irritation and inflammation that, after many years, can transform these cells into cancer. This long latency period—often several decades—makes mesothelioma the hallmark cancer associated with asbestos.

Lung carcinoma can also be more likely with asbestos exposure, especially in smokers, but it is not the iconic cancer directly linked to asbestos in the same unique way. Liver cancer and skin cancer are not strongly associated with asbestos exposure, so they aren’t the typical cancers you’d name in this context.