Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma - When it comes to cancerous conditions of the lungs, there is traditional lung cancer and Mesothelioma. Many victims who get Mesothelioma may think they have lung cancer, since the lungs are an affected area. However, lung cancer and Mesothelioma are two totally different diseases. The differences between lung cancer and Mesothelioma can be seen by: how the diseases progress, the cause of the diseases and the frequency in which they occur among the general public.

The biggest difference between lung cancer and Mesothelioma is how the diseases progress in the body. Firstly, Mesothelioma attacks the lining around the outer layer of the lungs, not the lungs themselves. And when it does attack, it will due so through a series of complex, interconnecting tumors. It is this nature of the disease that makes it difficult to treat, whether it’s through chemotherapy or surgery. Yet, traditional lung cancer attacks the lungs directly through separate, individual tumors. Though there can be several of them, when it comes to lung cancer and Mesothelioma, treatment is a bit easier because the tumors with lung cancer have clearly-defined boundaries. Granted, people still die from lung cancer, but in comparison to Mesothelioma, traditional lung cancer sufferers have a much better chance of getting cured.

The second difference between lung cancer and Mesothelioma is in how the diseases are caused. Traditional lung cancer is caused by smoking, (with a few rarer incidents of those getting the disease for no known reason). On the other hand, Mesothelioma is a result of asbestos exposure. So, when it comes to lung cancer and Mesothelioma, one could say that lung cancer is more due to the individual’s actions, while Mesothelioma is due to the lack of action by governmental entities and/or companies where there are jobs requiring one to work around a lot of asbestos.

The final difference between lung cancer and Mesothelioma is how often the diseases occur in the population. Traditional lung cancer has around 200,000 cases each year, while Mesothelioma only has 3,000. Fortunately, the numbers of both are able to decline due to individual intervention and governmental intervention. Individual intervention is done by simply not smoking, while governmental intervention is done by forbidding asbestos use.

In conclusion, while both lung cancer and Mesothelioma are very devastating diseases, they are not the same. However, the treatment options available for both of them are. Basically, if one has lung cancer or Mesothelioma, they will undergo chemotherapy and/or surgery to remove the lesions. And, both lung cancer and Mesothelioma sufferers will experience the same type of side effects associated with these alternatives. This includes being ill, losing hair and/or being in a lot of pain. Lung cancer sufferers have a better chance of finding success from these treatments, while things tend to be more of a long shot for Mesothelioma victims. Either way, both lung cancer and Mesothelioma must be strong when dealing with their conditions. While they should be aware of the reality of the situation, they should do everything they can to keep hope alive that they will be the ones who will survive.

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