There is no cure for asbestos diseases, but, as severity depends on the length of exposure and amount of asbestos dust inhaled, early identification through chest x-ray can prevent further exposure and worsening of conditions.

People who develop mesothelioma have a particularly bad prognosis. Around 75% die within one year of diagnosis. Mesothelioma can take between 20 and 40 years to develop after exposure to asbestos dust.

Other cancers related to asbestos include lung cancer (worsened by cigarette smoking) and cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, colon and rectum.

People with pleural diseases can have their lungs drained at intervals to relieve the build-up of fluid.

Some people with asbestos diseases may need oxygen masks to help them breathe. Asbestosis, for example, leads to a thickening of the lower part of the lungs, making them less elastic and causing breathing problems.

Early medical attention and prompt, aggressive treatment offer the best chance of success in controlling infections brought on by weakened lung condition from asbestosis.

Treatment of asbestos-related cancers depends on the diagnosis, type and stage. Therapies may include surgery, drugs, radiation or combinations of these. There are exciting new therapies being tested which include gene therapy, photodynamic therapy and new, more effective drugs.