Although mesothelioma and lung cancer are both malignant diseases of the lungs, they are separate diseases. Malignant mesothelioma is a disease of the lining of the lungs. Lung cancer is malignancy of the lungs themselves. Each of these diseases is associated with a specific carcinogen. Asbestos exposure causes can result in mesothelioma. Exposure to tobacco smoke can result in lung cancer. Tobacco smoke has not been associated with the development of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of lung cancer. Asbestos workers who also smoke have a lung cancer risk 50 to 90 times greater than that of the general population. More asbestos workers die of lung cancer than of mesothelioma.
The information provided in this site is general in nature and constitutes neither legal nor medical advice. If you are concerned that you or someone you know is at risk of an asbestos-related disease, please consult your physician and an attorney experienced in asbestos litigation cases.
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