Key Takeaways
- Mesothelioma and lung cancer are separate cancers, even though both can be caused by asbestos exposure.
- Pleural mesothelioma begins in the pleura, the tissue surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity, while lung cancer begins within the lungs or airways.
- Asbestos exposure causes most cases of mesothelioma and is also a known risk factor for lung cancer.
- Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, and smoking combined with asbestos exposure substantially increases lung cancer risk.
- Smoking has not been shown to increase the risk of mesothelioma.
- Mesothelioma and lung cancer can cause similar symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
- Medical testing, including imaging and tissue samples, may be needed to determine whether a person has mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another disease.
- Both diseases can appear decades after asbestos exposure, making a person’s occupational and exposure history important when evaluating an asbestos-related cancer.
Asbestos exposure can cause several serious health problems, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Because asbestos fibers are commonly inhaled into the lungs, it is easy to assume these cancers are the same disease. They are not. The biggest difference in mesothelioma vs. lung cancer is where the cancer begins. Lung cancer starts within the lung, while pleural mesothelioma develops in the thin tissue surrounding the lungs and lining the chest. Asbestos exposure can contribute to both, but cancers develop differently and have different risk factors.
Where Does Mesothelioma Start?
Mesothelioma develops in a thin layer of tissue called the mesothelium, which lines many internal organs.
The most common form is pleural mesothelioma. It develops in the pleura, the tissue surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity. This means that even though pleural mesothelioma affects the chest and can interfere with breathing, it is not technically lung cancer.
Mesothelioma can also develop in other areas of the body, including the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum. Less commonly, it can affect tissue around the heart or testicles.
Where Does Lung Cancer Start?
Lung cancer begins in cells within the lungs or airways.
Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, but it is not the only cause. People who have never smoked can also develop the disease. The CDC identifies asbestos as one of several workplace substances that can increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer.
This creates an important distinction:
Pleural mesothelioma begins in the lining around the lungs. Lung cancer begins within the lungs themselves.
Both can be associated with asbestos exposure, but they are separate cancers.
How Can Asbestos Contribute to Both Cancers?
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibers can become airborne. People nearby may inhale these fibers without realizing it.
Some inhaled fibers can become trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time. Over time, asbestos fibers can contribute to inflammation, scarring and cellular damage. Asbestos is a known human carcinogen and can cause both mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The risk of asbestos-related disease can be influenced by several factors, including how much asbestos someone encountered, how long exposure lasted, the characteristics of the fibers and individual risk factors.
Why Do Some People Develop Mesothelioma and Others Lung Cancer?
There is no simple way to predict which asbestos-related disease a person will develop.
Not everyone exposed to asbestos develops cancer. Among those who do, factors such as the amount and duration of exposure, fiber characteristics, smoking history, pre-existing lung disease and certain genetic factors can influence risk.
Mesothelioma is particularly associated with asbestos exposure. According to the CDC, asbestos exposure causes most cases of mesothelioma.
Lung cancer is different because it has several major risk factors. Cigarette smoking remains the leading risk factor, but asbestos, radon, secondhand smoke and other occupational or environmental exposures can also contribute.
How Does Smoking Change the Risk?
Smoking is one of the most important differences when comparing mesothelioma vs. lung cancer after asbestos exposure.
Smoking and asbestos exposure together substantially increase the risk of developing lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute reports that the combined risk is greater than the individual risks from asbestos exposure and smoking simply added together.
Mesothelioma is different.
Smoking combined with asbestos exposure does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure itself remains the major risk factor for the disease.
This distinction is important because a person does not need a history of smoking to develop an asbestos-related cancer.
Do Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Have Similar Symptoms?
Mesothelioma and lung cancer can cause some similar symptoms, particularly when pleural mesothelioma affects the chest.
Symptoms associated with asbestos-related diseases can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent or worsening cough
- Chest pain or tightness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
These symptoms do not automatically mean someone has mesothelioma or lung cancer. Many other conditions can cause similar problems, which is why symptoms alone cannot determine which disease is present.
A history of asbestos exposure can be important information to share with a healthcare provider when these symptoms are being evaluated.
How Do Doctors Tell Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Apart?
Because the two cancers can affect the same general area of the body and produce overlapping symptoms, medical testing is needed to distinguish them.
Doctors may use imaging tests to look for abnormal areas in the chest. If cancer is suspected, additional testing and a tissue sample may be needed to determine what type of cancer is present.
The location and characteristics of the cancer cells help doctors determine whether a patient has mesothelioma, lung cancer or another disease.
This distinction matters because mesothelioma and lung cancer are different cancers and may require different approaches to staging and treatment.
Can Both Appear Decades After Asbestos Exposure?
One of the challenges of asbestos-related disease is the long period between exposure and illness.
The National Cancer Institute reports that symptoms of asbestos-related conditions may not appear until 10 to 40 years or more after exposure.
Someone diagnosed today may therefore need to think back decades when trying to determine where asbestos exposure could have occurred.
For Pennsylvania workers, that history could include employment in steel mills, factories, construction sites, railroads, paper mills, power plants, shipyards or other industrial workplaces where asbestos-containing materials may historically have been present.
Mesothelioma vs. Lung Cancer: Why the Difference Matters
Although asbestos can contribute to both cancers, mesothelioma and lung cancer are not interchangeable diagnoses.
Pleural mesothelioma begins in the tissue surrounding the lungs. Lung cancer begins within the lungs or airways. Smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer and can dramatically compound the danger of asbestos exposure, while smoking has not been shown to increase the risk of mesothelioma.
Understanding these differences can also help people make sense of an asbestos exposure that may have happened many years before their diagnosis.
Final Thoughts
The connection between asbestos exposure, mesothelioma and lung cancer can be confusing because both cancers can affect the chest and may develop many years after exposure.
The key difference is where each cancer begins. Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium, while lung cancer develops within the lung. Asbestos can cause both, but they remain distinct diseases with different risk factors and characteristics.
At Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Information, we understand how overwhelming it can be to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis and begin looking back at where asbestos exposure may have occurred.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call us today at 800-505-6000 or reach out through our contact form. Someone will be with you right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between mesothelioma and lung cancer?
The main difference is where the cancer begins. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the tissue surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity, while lung cancer begins within the lungs or airways.
Can asbestos cause both mesothelioma and lung cancer?
Yes. Asbestos is a known human carcinogen that can cause both mesothelioma and lung cancer. However, the two are separate diseases that develop in different tissues.
Does smoking cause mesothelioma?
Smoking has not been shown to increase the risk of mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure remains the major risk factor for the disease.
How does smoking affect lung cancer risk after asbestos exposure?
Smoking and asbestos exposure together substantially increase the risk of developing lung cancer. The combined risk is greater than the individual risks from asbestos exposure and smoking simply added together.
Do mesothelioma and lung cancer have similar symptoms?
Yes. Both diseases can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent or worsening cough, chest pain or tightness, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. Symptoms alone cannot determine which disease is present.
How do doctors tell mesothelioma and lung cancer apart?
Doctors may use imaging tests to identify abnormal areas in the chest. If cancer is suspected, additional testing and a tissue sample may be needed. The location and characteristics of the cancer cells help determine whether a patient has mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another disease.
Can mesothelioma and lung cancer develop decades after asbestos exposure?
Yes. Asbestos-related diseases can take many years to develop. Symptoms of asbestos-related conditions may not appear until 10 to 40 years or more after exposure.
Why is asbestos exposure history important after a cancer diagnosis?
Because asbestos-related diseases may develop decades after exposure, a person’s past jobs, workplaces, and occupational history can provide important information about where asbestos exposure may have occurred.
