Key Takeaways
- Lung cancer and mesothelioma are two different diseases — they differ in cause, origin, latency period, prevalence, and how they are diagnosed.
- Lung cancer originates inside the lung tissue itself, with smoking accounting for 90% of cases. There are approximately 235,000 new cases per year in the U.S.
- Pleural mesothelioma originates in the tissue lining around the lungs (not inside the lungs), and is primarily caused by asbestos exposure. There are approximately 3,000 new cases per year in the U.S.
- Lung cancer symptoms can appear within about 8 years. Mesothelioma has a much longer latency period — 20 to 60 years after asbestos exposure.
- While symptoms overlap (cough, chest pain, weight loss), mesothelioma is more likely to present with pleural effusion (fluid buildup) and shortness of breath, while lung cancer more commonly involves coughing up blood and persistent respiratory infections.
- Both diseases are diagnosed through imaging and biopsy, but mesothelioma diagnosis often requires multiple imaging modalities (X-ray, CT, MRI) plus blood tests and tissue lining biopsy to confirm.
Most of the time when individuals hear about mesothelioma, they immediately think of lung cancer, unfortunately this is not the case. Let’s delve in further to what exactly lung cancer is and how it’s different from pleural mesothelioma. We’ll break it into four sections for each disease. It is vital to establish the definitions of each disease to find the correct form of treatment and if diagnosed with mesothelioma, you might be eligible for compensation.
What are Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer and What is the Cause?
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when “normal lung cells change, or mutate, in a way that alters their natural growth and death cycle, resulting in unregulated cell division that produces too many cells” according to Moffitt Cancer Center. This mutation can lead to a rapid spread and can later form tumors or large masses in the lungs. The main cause of lung caner is smoking as it makes up 90% of all cases found by the American Lung Association. A few other causes include, genetics, radon (odorless radioactive gas), dangerous chemicals (asbestos, nickel, etc.), and pollution.
Mesothelioma is form of cancer that attacks the mesothelial cells and the tissue lines multiple organs such as the lungs, heart, abdomen, and testicles. Each location that is affected contributes to a different form of mesothelioma, when it occurs in the lungs it is pleural mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the heart, peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the abdomen, and testicular mesothelioma occurs in the testicles. The most common cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a natural mineral composed of six fibers that can be harmful when ingested or inhaled.
Where Does it Originate and What is the Latency Period?
Lung cancer originates in the lungs. It is recognized as a non-small lung cancer which means that it is extremely aggressive and can grow rapidly to other areas. Symptoms can take up to eight years to show according to MedicineNet.
Pleural Mesothelioma originates in the tissue lining of the lungs. This is different from lung cancer as lung cancer is formed inside the tissue of the lungs. The latency period for mesothelioma is recognized to take anywhere from 20 to 60 years to show up.
What Are the Symptoms and How Common is it?
While symptoms can overlap amongst the two diseases there are a few differences.
A few symptoms of Lung Cancer include:
- Persistent cough
- Blood when coughing
- Persistent respiratory infection
- Weight loss
Lung cancer is one of the leading cancers in the United States and there are around 235,000 cases per year according to the American Cancer Society (“Lung Cancer Statistics | How Common Is Lung Cancer?”).
A few symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Weight loss
- Fluid buildup (Pleural effusion) (“Treatment for Fluid on the Lung (Pleurodesis)”)
Mesothelioma cases (including all types) make up around 3,000 cases per year according to the American Cancer Society. While mesothelioma is rare compared to other cancers, there are still an increasing amount of diagnosis each year.
How are Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
Lung Cancer is diagnosed using:
- Imaging scans
- Bronchoscopy (endoscopic procedure to look in the airways)
- Needle/surgical biopsy (remove piece of lung)
Pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed using:
- Multiple Imaging scans
- X-ray (searching for thickening or fluid buildup)
- CT scan (staging of the disease)
- MRI (detect the disease)
- Blood tests (LDH enzyme test found in cells that can imply cancer is present)
- Biopsy of tissue lining (collect fluid or tissue for definite diagnosis)
While lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma present similar symptoms and diagnosis tests the cause of each and commonality are strikingly different. If you or someone you know has been affected by mesothelioma in the state of Pennsylvania, please visit call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our form for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mesothelioma the same as lung cancer?
No. Although mesothelioma and lung cancer both affect the chest area and share some symptoms, they are distinctly different diseases. Lung cancer originates inside the lung tissue and is primarily caused by smoking (90% of cases). Pleural mesothelioma originates in the tissue lining surrounding the lungs (the pleura) and is caused by asbestos exposure. They differ in cause, location, latency period, prevalence, and treatment approach.
What causes lung cancer versus mesothelioma?
The primary cause of lung cancer is smoking, which accounts for approximately 90% of all cases. Other causes include genetics, radon gas exposure, dangerous chemicals (including asbestos), and air pollution. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure — inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers that become embedded in the tissue lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles.
Where does each disease originate?
Lung cancer forms inside the lung tissue itself. It is classified as a non-small cell lung cancer in most cases, which means it can be aggressive and spread rapidly to other areas. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the tissue lining (pleura) that surrounds the lungs — not inside the lungs. This distinction is important because it affects how each disease is diagnosed, staged, and treated.
How long does it take for symptoms to appear?
The latency periods are significantly different:
- Lung cancer — symptoms can take approximately 8 years to develop
- Mesothelioma — symptoms can take 20 to 60 years to appear after asbestos exposure
This dramatically longer latency period is why many mesothelioma patients are diagnosed decades after their original exposure — often in their 60s, 70s, or 80s — and may not initially connect their illness to asbestos.
What are the different symptoms of lung cancer and mesothelioma?
While the two diseases share some symptoms (cough, chest pain, weight loss), there are distinguishing signs:
- Lung cancer symptoms — persistent cough, coughing up blood, persistent respiratory infections, weight loss
- Mesothelioma symptoms — shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss, pleural effusion (fluid buildup around the lungs)
Pleural effusion is particularly associated with mesothelioma and is often one of the earliest detectable signs of the disease.
How is each disease diagnosed?
Lung cancer is typically diagnosed through imaging scans, bronchoscopy (an endoscopic procedure to examine the airways), and needle or surgical biopsy.
Mesothelioma diagnosis usually requires a more extensive workup:
- Multiple imaging tests — chest X-ray (to detect thickening or fluid), CT scan (for staging), and MRI (for detection)
- Blood tests — including LDH enzyme tests and biomarker analysis
- Tissue biopsy — collecting fluid or tissue from the pleural lining for a definitive diagnosis
The multi-step diagnostic process for mesothelioma reflects the difficulty of confirming this rare cancer, which can mimic other conditions.
Can asbestos cause both lung cancer and mesothelioma?
Yes. While smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, asbestos exposure is also a recognized risk factor — particularly for people who both smoked and were exposed to asbestos, as the combination dramatically increases lung cancer risk. Asbestos is the primary and often only cause of mesothelioma. This is an important distinction: if you have a history of asbestos exposure and receive a lung cancer diagnosis, the asbestos may still be a contributing factor even though mesothelioma is a separate disease.
Why does the distinction between lung cancer and mesothelioma matter legally?
The distinction is critical for legal purposes because mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, which means a diagnosis often points directly to a liable employer, manufacturer, or product. Asbestos-related lung cancer cases can also be pursued legally, but they require additional evidence connecting the cancer to asbestos rather than smoking or other factors. In either case, documenting your exposure history is essential.
What should I do if I’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer in Pennsylvania?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure, understanding your legal options is an important step. Call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation and to request our Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Information Guide.
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