Mesothelioma vs. Asbestosis

Differences Between Mesothelioma and Asbestosis

Mesothelioma and asbestosis are two lung diseases caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer. Asbestosis causes inflammation and scarring in the lungs but is not cancer. Mesothelioma can take decades to develop, while asbestosis can develop in a matter of years. If you have been exposed to asbestos, it is important to see a doctor for regular checkups.

Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer, and asbestosis is a form of pulmonary fibrosis. DNA damage from asbestos causes unrestricted cell growth that leads to tumors.

Pulmonary fibrosis, such as asbestosis, is not cancer. It is scar tissue in the lungs that restricts breathing by thickening and stiffening the tissue.

Asbestosis creates irreversible scar tissue that gradually worsens breathing. It doesn’t cause tumors and is limited to the lungs and respiratory tract. In contrast, mesothelioma is a type of cancer. It can develop in the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testes.

Prognosis and life expectancy also differ between asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma treatment is challenging. Only 23% of patients survive for three or more years. Asbestosis is a chronic, incurable lung disease. Treatment can extend survival for about a decade.

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Similarities of Mesothelioma and Asbestosis

Asbestosis isn’t cancer, but it has similar symptoms to mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath. Inflammation from asbestos exposure contributes to both diseases.

Mesothelioma patients experience shared symptoms more severely earlier in their disease than asbestosis patients. Asbestosis patients may not have severe symptoms until many years after diagnosis.

Both diseases can also cause a condition called pleural effusion. As swelling and inflammation increase over time, cell waste and fluid build up in the lung lining. The increased pressure on the lungs worsens symptoms and can lead to respiratory distress.

Jerry Cochran

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

Navy Veteran With Asbestosis & Silicosis Has a Passion for Justice

Navy veteran Jerry Cochran was told 50 years ago that he had only five years to live. But he said his faith in God and his work advocating for others has kept him going for the past half a century.

Jerry Cochran

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

Read Jerry’s Story

How Asbestos-Related Diseases Develop

Asbestos-related diseases develop from long or repeated exposure to asbestos fibers. These tiny, needle-like fibers release into the air when asbestos materials are damaged.

The body struggles to get rid of inhaled asbestos fibers. Some fibers stay in the lungs, pleura and other tissues. The immune system tries to remove them with inflammation. Prolonged inflammation leads to damage and scarring, resulting in asbestos-related diseases.

Mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer stem from DNA damage. Asbestos fibers trigger ongoing inflammation that damages DNA. Bad DNA causes uncontrolled cell growth, which forms tumors. These tumors can then spread throughout the body.

Ongoing lung inflammation causes scar tissue that leads to asbestosis. Scar tissue is tougher than healthy tissue. This makes the lungs stiff, restricting their ability to expand for a full breath. Scar tissue in the alveoli blocks oxygen from entering the bloodstream. Patients cope with chronic deficiencies in oxygen and respiratory complications that progress with age.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma and Asbestosis

Diagnosing any asbestos-related disease requires medical and occupational screening. Symptoms and imaging scans won’t help unless there’s a known asbestos exposure history. Biopsies are the best tests to diagnoses these conditions.

The first step in diagnosing both diseases is talking with a primary care physician about respiratory changes or other health issues. A doctor will order a chest X-ray or CT scan to determine if there are visual abnormalities in the lungs. This is according to a 2021 review by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

The first signs of these conditions might show up on scans as denser spots. These spots could be scar tissue or tumors. A biopsy can tell asbestosis apart from mesothelioma.

Biopsies That Identify Asbestosis and Mesothelioma

• Bronchoscopy: A doctor inserts a small camera on a thin, flexible tube through the nose or mouth into the breathing passages. This lets them see the tissue and retrieve a sample.
• Needle Biopsy: A doctor uses a needle to remove liquid containing a sample of cells for identification. Guided imagery helps select tissue samples.
• Thoracoscopic Surgery: Thoracoscopy is a more invasive approach that allows surgeons to remove a core sample of tissue. It offers the best method of cell identification.

These procedures may also help physicians identify signs of pleural thickening or pleural effusion. In most cases, doctors do not rule out cancer until a biopsy is returned negative.

Mesothelioma Treatment vs. Asbestosis Treatment

Treatment for mesothelioma includes surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation. Asbestosis treatment involves surgery, medications and pulmonary therapy. Both asbestosis and mesothelioma patients may use pain medication to reduce breathing discomfort. Asbestosis patients are also likely to receive breathing treatments with bronchodilators.

Most asbestosis treatments involve surgery to drain fluid from the chest and lungs. In severe cases, a lung transplant might be an option. However, this is not available for asbestos cancer.

Asbestosis worsens with age. Patients will need more treatments, such as oxygen and antibiotics. Ongoing treatment manages symptoms and prevents infections.

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