As a nation, we are at the peak of the problems of those people exposed to asbestos. Cancer of the lung and mesothelioma are the primary diseases to occur as 20- to 30-year outcomes of asbestos exposure. The number of people exposed is not an easy figure to come by, Estimates vary from 2–5 million. It is estimated that 20%–50% of the exposed population will develop lung cancer. Nurses' responsibility lies in encouragement of smoking cessation and case finding, particularly for those not known to be an “asbestos worker.” There are new cancer prevention studies beginning which involve the administration of beta-carotene and retinol, separately or in combination, which may prove to arrest the development of these cancers.
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