Most people have heard of both mesothelioma and lung cancer, and many assume that they’re the same thing. However, this is a common misconception. Both lung cancer and mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure, and they present themselves with almost identical symptoms. However, they are entirely different diseases.
An accurate diagnosis can have a major impact on a patient's health, making it critical to understand the differences between the two conditions.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers. It’s the most common kind of cancer linked to asbestos exposure and can impact individuals who spent time working with asbestos as well as those who have had secondhand exposure from a family member who worked with it.
Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium, a fine tissue surrounding the internal organs. The most common form of the disease is malignant pleural mesothelioma. This occurs when cancer cells develop in the pleura, a thin tissue that lines the chest cavity and coats the lungs. This type of cancer makes up about 75% of mesothelioma diagnoses.
Mesothelioma cells can also develop the tissue along the abdomen and abdominal organs, known as the peritoneum. In some cases, patients may also develop mesothelioma in the lining of the heart or the testes.
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is a disease that begins as an abnormal growth in the cells of the lungs. These growths often form tumors that spread into other areas of the body. While all mesothelioma cases are caused by exposure to asbestos, there are many other possible causes of lung cancer. This includes:
- Cigarette smoking
- Exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke
- Exposure to radiation or radon
- Air pollution
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Genetic predisposition
- Asbestos exposure
Although asbestos exposure is a possible cause of lung cancer, strong evidence is required to link the two and most physicians will look for other causes first.
Learn More About Lung Cancer from Asbestos
Differences Between Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
There are a few key differences between mesothelioma and lung cancer: the causes, diagnosis and treatment, and legal options if asbestos is involved. First, let's look at similarities between the two.
Mesothelioma and lung cancer can present similar symptoms, including:
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic cough
- Unexplained weight loss
- Coughing up blood in the mucus
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fatigue
Since both diseases initially present almost identically in patients, additional testing and consultation with a specialist are needed to properly diagnose mesothelioma. A definitive diagnosis often depends on identifying differences in the way cancer develops and spreads and the appearance of the cells. This may also impact a patient's recommended course of treatment and their legal options.
Pathology
One of the biggest differences between lung cancer and mesothelioma is the way in which each disease develops. While lung cancer typically grows in individual masses with defined boundaries, mesothelioma tends to start as small nodule tumors, which are scattered in the mesothelial lining. These small tumors eventually grow together, forming a sheath-like tumor that surrounds the lungs or other organs.
Lung cancer also often metastasizes or spreads to other organs in the body while mesothelioma typically remains in one body cavity and is more locally aggressive. The size of the network and the number of nodules that develop in a patient with mesothelioma is typically quite large, making the disease harder to treat.
Test Results
Doctors use similar tests to diagnose both lung cancer and mesothelioma, including X-rays, PET, and CT scans. However, since they both provide very similar test results, it’s often difficult to distinguish between the two.
A tissue biopsy is typically necessary to confirm a diagnosis. Lung cancer and mesothelioma cells look different when examined under a microscope, making this one of the primary ways to understand which disease is present. It’s also possible to detect lung cancer by testing an individual’s sputum (phlegm). This may be an alternative if obtaining a tissue biopsy is not a viable option.
Since lung cancer is far more common, doctors will often want to rule this out before exploring the possibility of mesothelioma. This is particularly true if the patient has not had exposure to asbestos. If you have been exposed to asbestos at any time in the past, it's important to bring this to your medical team's attention.
Advocating for yourself may lead to a faster diagnosis, which can give you more time for treatment and may significantly impact your chances of survival. Since making an accurate diagnosis can be challenging for even the most skilled oncologist, if you believe you may have mesothelioma, it may be beneficial to consult with a doctor who specializes in this disease.
Treatment Options
Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are often the first lines of treatment for both lung cancer and mesothelioma. However, since mesothelioma tumors lack distinct boundaries, the success of these treatments is often limited. If these treatment methods don't work, palliative care is typically the only other option.
For patients with lung cancer, doctors may explore additional treatment options such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), immunotherapy, and alternative drugs. In some cases, certain clinical trials may be available for either mesothelioma or lung cancer patients. However, access to trials is limited and a definitive diagnosis would be required.
Legal Ramifications
Since lung cancer has many possible causes, it’s often difficult to hold any party responsible for your medical diagnosis. However, if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have legal recourse against the company responsible for your asbestos exposure. For many, taking legal action provides much-needed funds to pay for the cost of medical treatment, loss of wages, and more.
Since it’s common for a mesothelioma diagnosis to arise anywhere from 10 to 50 years after exposure, you may think that it’s too late to pursue action. However, this isn’t the case. The team at Cooney & Conway has been representing victims of asbestos exposure since the 1970s. We can handle your mesothelioma case regardless of when or where your asbestos exposure occurred. Learn more today by contacting us for a free case evaluation.