What’s the Difference Between Mesothelioma And Lung Cancer?

Mesothelioma and lung cancer share similar signs, symptoms, and treatments but are otherwise very different illnesses. The key differences lie in where they manifest in the body, how they relate to cigarette smoking, and the incidence rate of the diseases.

Our lawyers can help determine if your diagnosis qualifies for a mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer case. We’re ready to help you recover the compensation you need.

Where the Diseases Originate

Lung cancer and mesothelioma are both lung-based diseases (although mesothelioma can also occur in the external lining of the stomach). However, the tumors for each condition manifest in different parts of the lung.

Lung cancer results from the uncontrolled development and expansion of malignant cells in the tissues within the lung. Mesothelioma develops in the protective outer linings of organs. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, the tumors appear in the outer linings of the lung, called the pleura.

Once you receive your diagnosis, you should get in touch with a mesothelioma lawyer from our law firm. We can help determine if we can help you recover compensation.

The Cigarette Smoking Connection or Lack Thereof

Although mesothelioma and lung cancer have causal ties to asbestos, they differ in their interplay with cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking bears no influence on a person’s development of mesothelioma. On the other hand, a person exposed to asbestos has a greater chance of developing lung cancer if they smoke tobacco.

Health agencies recommend that nobody smoke and strongly underscore that asbestos workers quit smoking to reduce their chances of developing lung cancer. They also urge asbestos-exposed workers, particularly smokers, to receive regular check-ups for indications of mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Prevalence of Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second leading form of cancer in the United States. Mesothelioma, on the other hand, is a much rarer disease.

According to Cancer.net, approximately 3,000 people per year are diagnosed with mesothelioma. But lung cancer diagnoses are much more common, fluctuating anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 per year, per the American Lung Association’s estimates.

Both Are Products of the Asbestos Industry

Mesothelioma and lung cancer both connect to asbestos exposure. Once known as the “miracle mineral” for its heat and chemical resistance, as well as its durability, the substance has been used in products since the mid-1800s.

Countless American workers were and are at risk for mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer as they are the ones who milled the natural-occurring asbestos for use in industrial applications, worked with the substance in the production of tools and machines, and installed the mineral in homes via insulation, and floor and ceiling tiles.

The Asbestos Industry Ignored Both Diseases

When workers began to fall ill with increasing cases of mesothelioma and lung cancer, the asbestos industry looked the other way, continuing to expose the masses to its effects, even after research proved the substance to be a carcinogen. But we’re here to help victims of the asbestos industry hold the asbestos industry accountable.

How a Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Attorney Can Help You

If you or a loved one has mesothelioma,  a mesothelioma lawyer is a great asset to have in your case. Our lawyers have knowledge and experience in handling legal matters related to asbestos exposure and mesothelioma cases. We have years of experience advocating for the rights of mesothelioma patients and their families, helping them understand complex legal processes, and pursuing compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Mesothelioma lawyers are well-versed in asbestos-related laws and regulations and the specific medical and scientific aspects of mesothelioma. We can provide guidance and support throughout the legal journey, conducting thorough investigations to identify responsible parties, such as asbestos manufacturers, suppliers, or employers.

Damages for Both Diseases Are Recoverable in Court

For the decades since the first successful asbestos lawsuit in 1971, victims of asbestos exposure who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer have been demanding and receiving compensation for the high price they paid in the name of corporate greed.

If you or a loved one endured asbestos exposure and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may be able to recover damages. You could recover economic and non-economic damages such as:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Lost benefits
• Prescription medicines
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of consortium

It’s important to remember that the damages you are eligible for depend on the details of your case. The only way to know which damages you can recover is by meeting with one of our mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer lawyers.

Call a Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Lawyer Today

Our mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuit lawyers will guide you through filing a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit if you lost a loved one to mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Zanes Law will do everything from A to Z to right the wrongs of the industry or company that placed profits before your health and well-being. We will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer diagnosis. Call us today for a free case review and consultation.