The Relationship Between Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death due to cancer in both men and women throughout the world. Lung cancer is a result from an abnormality of cells in the body. Lung cancer is sometimes called "bronchogenic cancer," or it may be described by its particular histologic type, that is the type of tissue that is diseased.

Lung cancer is predominantly a disease of the elderly; almost 70% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are over 65 years of age, while less than 3% of lung cancers occur in people under 45 years of age.

Everybody knows that cigarette smoking is the most closely related link to developing lung cancer. As a matter of fact, the earlier one begins smoking and the higher the number of cigarettes one smokes, the higher the chances of getting lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos, radiation, and pollution are also some of the other causes of lung cancer.

Asbestos exposure is one of the cause of lung cancer and mesothelioma.  Asbestos is a bunch of naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to fire and chemical substances. They are fibrous mineral forms of impure magnesium silicate and located in fire-proofing materials, electrical insulation, cement, shingles, acoustic and decorative ceiling plaster, and additional construction materials. When repairing, removing, or disturbing asbestos-containing supplies, tiny asbestos dust will be dispersed into the open air. Asbestos separates into fine silica fibers that become trapped in the tissues of the lungs. 

Mesothelioma is inextricably linked to asbestos exposure. There are no reported cases of mesothelioma in people who were not exposed to asbestos either in the workplace or through their environment. 

Symptoms Asbestos Exposure : Know The Signs

The symptoms of Asbestos exposure is a "red flag" that should be immediately sent an individual straight to a physician if any symptoms are diagnosed. It is better if the physician is familiar with Asbestos disease, because the sooner that an asbestos disease is identified, the sooner the treatment will begin. This is particularly important for cancers caused by asbestos exposure.

Many studies reported that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. Smoking seems to increase the frequency and/or the rate of progression of asbestosis, possibly by preventing the efficient elimination of inhaled fibers from the airways. Smokers who are exposed to asbestos have a risk of developing lung cancer that is greater than the individual risks from asbestos and smoking added together.

Most asbestos exposure symptoms don't begin to manifest until 15-30 years after initial inhalation. With the lack of early warning signs, it makes that wait all the more dangerous. Normally, you won't even notice anything until the cancer has actually gotten to a life-threatening stage.

Short term exposure to asbestos may show up symptoms like, shortness of breath. In such cases, one can experience the short term asbestos exposure symptoms like, abdominal pain, chest pain and irritation of the skin and the mucus membrane, along with shortness of breath. Another symptoms can be spotted are :

• Shortness of breath, hoarseness or wheezing
• A persistent cough that gets worse over time, or a change in cough pattern
• Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs
• Difficulty in breathing
  
• Pain in the abdomen
• Difficulty swallowing
• Unexplained weight loss
  
• Fatigue or anemia
• Crackling sound in the lungs during inhalation
• Swelling of the neck and/or face
• Loss of appetite
• Coughing up blood
• Wheezing
• Nausea

Having one or more of these symptoms does not mean that you have an asbestos related health problem, but it could be some other problem not related to Asbestos at all, but it is advisable to get it checked by your physician immediately.

You may be asked to get X-rays of the chest removed, or a CT scan done, or if the case is found to be of severe nature, a lung biopsy to detect the asbestos fibers could be performed.

Visiting the physician once you are aware of any symptoms of asbestos exposure could not just prolong, but possibly even save your life.