01. Differences Between Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
Is Mesothelioma the Same as Lung Cancer?
Mesothelioma and lung cancer are not the same. Pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer occur in the same region of the body, but they affect different tissues. Mesothelioma develops in the tissue surrounding the lungs (the pleura). Lung cancer develops inside the lungs, often along the airways.
Mesothelioma may also develop in other tissues similar to the pleura. For example, peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the tissue lining the abdomen (the peritoneum). In contrast, each form of lung cancer starts inside the lungs. Both cancers may spread to other areas if they go without treatment.
Breathing in asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma or lung cancer. But asbestos exposure is the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma while lung cancer has several potential causes. In fact, data indicates smoking causes most cases of lung cancer.
The key difference between lung cancer and mesothelioma is where they form. Lung cancer develops inside the lungs. Mesothelioma develops outside the lungs in the lining that surrounds them (the pleura).
What Is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is a tumor that develops inside the lungs, often along airways. Several things can cause lung cancer, including asbestos exposure, smoking and radiation. In the United States, more than 200,000 cases of lung cancer occur each year. It causes more deaths in this country than any other form of cancer.
Lung cancer occurs in two main types: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC also has subtypes including adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
What Is Pleural Mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma is a tumor that develops outside the lung in its exterior lining (the pleura). Mesothelioma can also develop in other tissue linings like the peritoneum and the lining around the heart. About 2,500 pleural mesothelioma cases occur each year in the United States.
Pleural mesothelioma has three main cell types: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic.
Many hospitals and cancer centers have lung cancer specialists, possibly because of the high number of cases. On the other hand, mesothelioma is rare, and far fewer doctors specialize in treating it. This means mesothelioma patients may have to travel beyond the closest hospital to find expert care.
Research shows access to a team of mesothelioma experts can improve survival. Patients should speak with their treatment teams to ensure mesothelioma doctors are included.
02. Causes of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
What Causes Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma?
Asbestos is the only confirmed cause of malignant mesothelioma. Lung cancer can also be caused by asbestos, but it has other causes as well, including smoking and radon gas.
How Asbestos Causes Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
When a person inhales asbestos, the fibers can embed in their lung tissue and cause irritation. Over time, this irritation can trigger changes in nearby cells that lead to cancer. This process may occur over a period of decades. This means people could develop lung cancer or mesothelioma many years after they were exposed.
This same general process may occur in asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma. The difference between the two is where the fibers become embedded. In asbestos-related lung cancer, the fibers generally embed in the lungs and stay there. In mesothelioma, asbestos fibers migrate through the lungs and embed in the pleura.
How Cigarette Smoke Causes Lung Cancer
Cigarette smoke carries harmful chemicals into the lungs. The chemicals directly damage DNA. They also make it more difficult for cells to repair DNA damage. Over time, the buildup of DNA damage can cause cells to become cancerous.
How Radon Gas Causes Lung Cancer
Radon is a radioactive gas that can be naturally released by soil and rocks. If people inhale radon, it can release radioactive particles in the lungs. These particles can damage any cells they contact. Over time, this damage can lead to lung cancer.
03. Symptoms of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
Are Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Symptoms the Same?
Lung cancer and mesothelioma share some symptoms, like chest pain and coughing. Other shared symptoms include:
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
Doctors may mistake lung cancer and mesothelioma symptoms as other conditions like the flu or pneumonia. It is also possible for doctors to initially mistake lung cancer for mesothelioma or vice versa.
Using a thorough diagnostic process can help doctors overcome this uncertainty. If a doctor suspects lung cancer or mesothelioma, they can order tests to determine which cancer may be causing the symptoms.
Patients experiencing these symptoms can help their doctors by mentioning any risk factors they have. Knowing about a history of smoking without any asbestos exposure might lead a doctor to order tests for lung cancer. But a history of smoking and asbestos exposure could help a doctor order tests for both cancers. This might enable the doctor to arrive more quickly at a correct diagnosis.
04. Diagnosis of Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
How Are Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer involves a series of exams and tests. For both cancers, the process generally starts with a patient history and physical exam. Patients should try to include all known risk factors for either cancer in their history. This can help the doctor order the right tests.
After the medical history and exam, patients may undergo additional tests to help find the cause of their symptoms. This may include imaging scans, blood tests or biopsy procedures. These later tests can differ depending on whether the doctor suspects lung cancer or mesothelioma.
Common Diagnostic Procedures for Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
The combination of diagnostic tests can vary depending on the type of cancer suspected. But in general, lung cancer and mesothelioma share some common tests, including:
- Biopsy: A procedure that removes suspicious tissue for additional testing
- Blood tests: A test that looks for signs of cancer or other illnesses in the patient’s blood
- Chest X-ray: An X-ray of the tissues inside the chest, including the lungs and the lining around them (the pleura)
- CT scan: A series of detailed X-rays that can make a 3-dimensional view of the tissues inside the chest
- Immunohistochemistry: A type of testing that can determine if a biopsy tissue sample is lung cancer or mesothelioma
Overall, the types of tests used for mesothelioma and lung cancer diagnosis are similar. But the results doctors look for in those tests may differ. For example, a CT scan of lung cancer may look quite different than one of pleural mesothelioma.
Correctly identifying the source of lung cancer or mesothelioma symptoms can be challenging. Patients can help doctors find the real cause of their symptoms by sharing any known risk factors. Discussing any history of smoking or asbestos exposure may help get a timely diagnosis and treatment.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
05. Prognosis for Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
What Is the Prognosis for Lung Cancer vs. Mesothelioma?
In general, lung cancer patients have a life expectancy of about one year. Pleural mesothelioma patients have a life expectancy of about 18 months with treatment. Prognosis for either cancer can vary because of several factors, including stage at diagnosis and patient health.
For either lung cancer or mesothelioma, oncologists may give patients an idea of their prognoses. But this is just an estimate. Patients may outlive their initial life expectancies by a few months or even years. Recent treatment advances also look poised to extend survival for both cancers in the near future.
06. Treatment for Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
Are Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Treatments the Same?
Lung cancer treatments differ from pleural mesothelioma treatments, because the two cancers are not the same. But both cancers commonly combine individual treatments into one multimodal therapy. The individual treatments in that combination vary between lung cancer and mesothelioma.
One reason for that variation may be the number of approved drugs for each cancer. Lung cancer has more than 10 times the number of approved drug treatments as mesothelioma. This may be because lung cancer is much more common than mesothelioma.
Despite the low number of mesothelioma cases, researchers are still working to improve treatment. Many patients participate in clinical trials like the one that earned the most recent mesothelioma drug approval. That trial investigated the immunotherapy drug combo of Opdivo® (nivolumab) and Yervoy® (ipilimumab). This combination also has approval for the treatment of some forms of lung cancer.
For both cancers, a patient’s treatment regimen can depend on several factors. An experienced oncologist can help patients understand their treatment options.
07. Legal Options for Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
What Legal Options Are There for Asbestos Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Patients?
Some cases of asbestos-linked lung cancer may have legal options similar to mesothelioma cases. Patients who can tie their exposure to a negligent asbestos company may be able to file a lawsuit. They may also qualify to make an asbestos trust fund claim. In general, these legal claims may provide compensation for medical expenses and other damage caused by asbestos.
Patients interested in legal options for asbestos cancers should speak with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. The lawyer can explain eligibility criteria and help patients make their best cases.
08. Common Questions
Common Questions About Mesothelioma vs. Lung Cancer
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Is mesothelioma the same as lung cancer?
- Mesothelioma and lung cancer are not the same. Mesothelioma cancer develops in the lining outside the lungs. Lung cancer develops inside the lungs. Asbestos can cause both cancers.
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Is mesothelioma a form of lung cancer?
- Mesothelioma is not lung cancer. Mesothelioma develops in the lining around the lungs, and lung cancer develops inside the lung tissue. Mesothelioma can also develop in the linings surrounding other organs or body cavities. Asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma.
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Is mesothelioma the same as small cell lung cancer?
- Mesothelioma and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are different cancers. Mesothelioma develops in the lining outside the lungs. SCLC is a form of lung cancer that develops inside the lungs.
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Is mesothelioma the same as non-small cell lung cancer?
- Mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are different cancers. Mesothelioma develops in the lining outside the lungs. NSCLC is a form of lung cancer that develops inside the lungs.
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How does the prognosis compare between lung cancer and mesothelioma?
- Lung cancer patients generally survive about one year. Mesothelioma patients survive about 18 months with treatment. Prognosis for both cancers depends on multiple factors including treatment type and stage at diagnosis. Patients can discuss prognosis with an oncologist to better understand these factors.
