Short Answer: Extensive scientific research has demonstrated that asbestos causes cancers of the digestive and respiratory systems, including mesothelioma and lung, stomach, colorectal and ovarian cancers. There is some evidence to link asbestos and a lifetime risk for parathyroid cancer, but there is no categorically proven link between the two.

Asbestos today is heavily regulated, and for good reason. 

Over the course of the past several decades, the connection between asbestos exposure and a myriad of serious medical conditions has continued to attract attention. Although there is little evidence to indicate a causal relationship between asbestos exposure and parathyroid cancer, any history of asbestos exposure—no matter its source—could make it much more difficult for the body to fight back against disease. 

An Overview of Parathyroid Cancer 

Parathyroid cancer is a rare cancer that forms in any one of the four parathyroid glands, a small set of pea-sized organs that help regulate calcium levels in the bloodstream. 

Types of Parathyroid Cancer

Since parathyroid cancer is so uncommon—fewer than 100 people are diagnosed with this condition each year—physicians do not use the same four-stage naming system that is typically used to rate the severity of other malignant diseases.

Instead, parathyroid cancer is categorized as: 

  • Localized Parathyroid Cancer: Localized parathyroid cancer is parathyroid cancer that is contained to one or more of the parathyroid glands but which has not spread beyond adjacent tissue. 
  • Metastatic Parathyroid Cancer: Metastatic parathyroid cancer is a term used to describe cancer that has spread beyond the glands and their surrounding tissue to other parts of the body. Up to 30% of first-time parathyroid cancer diagnoses are metastatic. 
  • Recurrent Parathyroid Cancer: Recurrent parathyroid cancer is cancer that re-emerges after treatment. More than half of all people who are diagnosed and treated for parathyroid cancer will experience at least one recurrence. 

Each of these three categories of parathyroid can be classified as either of the following: 

  • Functioning Parathyroid Cancer: Functioning parathyroid cancer, or secreting parathyroid cancer, causes the affected parathyroid gland to produce excessive levels of parathyroid hormone. More than 90% of parathyroid cancer diagnoses are categorized as functioning parathyroid cancer. 
  • Non-Functioning Parathyroid Cancer: Non-functioning parathyroid cancer, or non-secreting parathyroid cancer, does not increase levels of parathyroid hormone. Fewer than 10% of parathyroid cancer diagnoses are categorized as non-functioning parathyroid cancer. 

Nobody knows exactly what causes parathyroid cancer, although possible risk factors include inherited forms of hyperparathyroidism and having a history of past radiation therapy targeting the head or the neck.  

The Symptoms of Parathyroid Cancer 

Parathyroid cancer, like most other types of cancer, has few telltale symptoms. Instead, early-warning signs are usually generalized and vague—leading many people to attribute their concerns to another condition, or to dismiss them outright.

However, as parathyroid cancer progresses or begins to spread, it could lead to symptoms including, but not limited to, the following: 

  • Frequent urination 
  • Increased thirst 
  • Nausea and vomiting 
  • Suppressed or limited appetite 
  • Unexpected or unwanted weight loss 
  • Fatigue 
  • Depression 
  • Memory loss
  • Muscle aches and cramps 

People with parathyroid cancer might also notice changes to their voice, feel hoarse, or have difficulty swallowing. In some cases, they may even be able to feel a lump in their neck. 

Diagnostic Tests for Parathyroid Cancer

Since the symptoms of parathyroid cancer overlap with those of many other conditions—almost all of which are non-cancerous—the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is by scheduling an appointment with a physician and, eventually, an oncologist or other cancer specialist. 

Before recommending surgery or other treatment, you may be asked to submit to other tests designed to assess whether your parathyroid gland is overactive. These tests could include: 

  • A blood calcium test 
  • A blood parathyroid hormone test 
  • A CT scan of parathyroid gland 

Even after undergoing a CT scan or other imaging test, physicians may not be able to tell whether a suspected tumor is benign or cancerous.

More rigorous testing for parathyroid cancer is often necessary.

However, once doctors identify the parathyroid gland as a potential problem, they may recommend its removal through a procedure called a “parathyroidectomy.” Once the parathyroid gland is removed, its tissue can be inspected for tumors or tested for cancer cells. 

If cancer is confirmed or suspected, you might need further imaging tests to determine if the cancer has metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body. 

Common Treatment Strategies for Parathyroid Cancer 

Parathyroid cancer, unlike many other types of cancer, is not typically treated with chemotherapy or radiation—surgery is preferred, and usually involves the removal of a tumor or gland. 

Common kinds of parathyroid cancer surgeries include: 

  • Tumor debulking: In a tumor debulking procedure, a surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible. 
  • En bloc resection: An en bloc resection is the removal of an entire parathyroid gland, as well as the sac of tissue surrounding it. 
  • Metastasectomy: A metastasectomy is usually only recommended if the cancer has metastasized and spread to other parts of the body, in which case a metastasectomy may be performed to remove tumors and infected tissue found elsewhere. 

Parathyroid Cancer Outcomes and Survival Rates

The five-year survival rate for parathyroid cancer patients who receive surgical interventions—like an en bloc resection—is about 90%, with the ten-year survival rate estimated at 67%. 

However, parathyroid cancer treatment is not always successful in fully purging malignancies: about half of all people who receive surgery or other care will eventually experience a recurrence.  

Understanding the Relationship Between Asbestos Exposure and Parathyroid Cancer

Asbestos is a type of naturally-occurring mineral that was once widely used in construction and manufacturing. Although the federal government has long since restricted the so-called “authorized uses of asbestos,” many residual asbestos-containing materials remain in use. 

A significant body of evidence suggests that asbestos exposure can cause a wide range of illnesses. These illnesses include cancers of the: 

  • Mesothelium 
  • Lungs
  • Throat 
  • Ovaries
  • Digestive tract 

Asbestos may contribute to overall risk

Some evidence also indicates that asbestos exposure could increase lifetime risk for thyroid cancer, but there does not appear to be any causal link between asbestos exposure and parathyroid cancer. But asbestos exposure, and other asbestos-related illnesses, can all weaken the immune system—making it harder for the body to fight back against parathyroid cancer and other, similar conditions. 

If you believe that you, or a loved one, could have been exposed to asbestos, talk to your physician and consider obtaining an asbestos scarring screening. Even if your parathyroid cancer cannot be directly attributed to a history of asbestos exposure, you could still be entitled to significant compensation.