Difficulties Concerning Differences Between Mesothelioma And Lung Cancer.

Nov. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- The Health & Safety Executive figures for the current annual, total number of asbestos-related cancer deaths in the UK is a conservative 4,000. Even though there were 2249 known deaths  from mesothelioma which, when added to all asbestos-related lung cancers, brings the total to 4498.

An asbestos awareness issue can arise due to the unfortunate fact that lung cancer deaths caused by asbestos exposure are clinically indistinguishable from those, for example, resulting from a history of cigarette smoking and consequently, the number of cases tends to be estimated.

A 2001 study conducted in the US suggests that , “ a person's risk of developing lung cancer increases up to four per cent each year that they were exposed to asbestos”.  The analysis indicates that risk from lung cancer risk doubles after 25 cumulative years of asbestos exposure, while falling significantly 35 to 40 years after first exposure. The reason may be due to the long gestation period of between 15 and 50 years that elapse from first exposure and the emergence of mesothelioma or asbestosis symptoms.

Separate research has also discovered that the number of asbestos fibres in the lungs of patients with both lung cancer and asbestosis was significantly higher than in those patients who had lung cancer only. Once inhaled, the fibres permanently embed in the linings of the lungs ( pleura), eventually causing the fibrous scarring of asbestosis or the formation of incurable mesothelioma cancer tumours.

Recent ‘best’ estimates of the annual number of asbestos-related lung cancers have improved due to advances in researched evidence and analysis over the last twenty years. Ratios of approximately “ two lung cancer deaths per mesothelioma each year" before the early 1990s to "one or two" are now typically recorded as  "around one" annually. However, survival rates from a confirmed diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer at an advanced stage are typically 4 to 12 months.
Both lung cancer  and pleural mesothelioma manifest their first symptoms with a dry, wheezing cough. Confusion may arise in patients who have become accustomed to having a "smoker's cough" from a history of cigarette smoking when they notice an increase in frequency and severity.

Although many patients tend to dismiss a cough at first, it is often a secondary complication caused by enlargement of the lymph nodes in the airways where tumours are developing and may eventually produce blood and phlegm in the sputum. When mesothelioma develops in the pleura (lung linings), pleural thickening results often causing the pleura to become fibrous and harden,  constricting lung movement and causing breathing difficulties.

If a lung cancer  tumour is blocking a major airway, patients may also experience difficulty in breathing. Other biological changes that may indicate the development of lung cancer include intermittent chest pain, hoarse voice, headache and weight loss. Once again, these symptoms are identical to mesothelioma with also the possible occurrence of sweating, fever, fatigue, upper body swellings, lower back pain and muscle weakness.

As with mesothelioma, lung cancer will spread to the chest wall or pleura, leading to a dull pain, tenderness or pleural effusions. An added complication is that some of the symptoms experienced are similar to pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease or other respiratory problems. It is not uncommon for some patients, however, to not display any symptoms and are incidentally diagnosed with either mesothelioma or lung cancer during tests for another illness.

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