It can be extremely difficult to make distinctions between lung cancer and asbestos lung cancer (also known as mesothelioma). In fact, they share a whole host of overlapping symptoms including coughing, chest pain, fatigue, difficulty breathing, and weight loss.

Additionally, the diagnostic tests and treatments for lung cancer and asbestos lung cancer are also very similar, which can lead to some confusion for patients.

However, considering that they develop in the same respiratory organ, there are some differences that can help you determine whether or not your lung cancer was caused by asbestos exposure.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is considered the most common type of cancer one can develop with about 200,000 Americans diagnosed with lung cancer annually. Lung cancer develops in the lung itself, unlike mesothelioma, which develops in the lining of the lung. Lung cancer has several different causes and is generally not a result of just once independent factor. A combination of tobacco use, environmental  factors (such as exposure to second hand smoke and radon gas), and constant exposure to carcinogens, including asbestos, can increase a person’s chance of developing lung cancer in the course of their lifetime.

Studies show that most individuals begin to present symptoms of lung cancer 10 to 30 years after an initial exposure to a carcinogen.

Asbestos Lung Cancer

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used as a common building material since the late 1800s until around 1990. The Mesothelioma Center stated that in 1935, “Medical researchers first made a probable causal relationship between exposure to asbestos and lung cancer.” Internationally, asbestos has been classified as a harmful human carcinogen.

Mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer develops almost exclusively from long term exposure to asbestos. Of the 200,000 patients diagnosed with lung cancer, 4,800 are specifically diagnosed with mesothelioma.

After an individual inhales asbestos particles, the cancer-causing material becomes lodged in the lining of the lung and further develops and spreads in the lining from there, unlike lung cancer which begins and spreads in the lung itself.

As previously stated, lung cancer can also be aggravated by asbestos exposure, but for an individual to be diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer, they generally must have been exposed to at least 25 asbestos particles per milliliters of air per year.

Many individuals may have been exposed to asbestos without their knowledge either at home or on the job. Because of the long latency period, most individuals will not be diagnosed with mesothelioma asbestos lung cancer until 20 to 50 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. The long exposure period is one of the major distinguishing factors between other types of lung cancer and mesothelioma asbestos lung cancer.

Occupational Exposure to Asbestos

Individuals who have held certain trade professions are at a higher risk for asbestos lung cancer. These occupations include:

• Auto mechanics
• Shipyard workers
• Paper mill workers
• Construction workers
• Textile workers
• Insulation installers
• Sheet metal workers
• Roofers
• Toll collectors
• Tilers
• Linotype technicians
• Plumbers

In these occupations, working individuals may have had prolonged exposure to asbestos in enclosed spaces with little or no protective gear. Because of this, individuals who were exposed to asbestos on the job, in a work environment, and even in homes where asbestos is present may qualify for compensation for their pain and suffering.