Mesothelioma vs Lung Cancer

Lung cancer usually forms a mass inside the lung and can spread early through lymph nodes and blood. Pleural mesothelioma tends to spread across the chest lining, often with fluid, before reaching distant sites. Lung cancer has several major types, such as non-small cell and small cell, each with its own approach. Mesothelioma is classified by epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic cell types. Because the two can look alike on scans and even under the microscope, special stains are needed to confirm which one is present.

Lung cancer treatment often depends on genetic testing of the tumor, which can reveal mutations matched to targeted drugs. Mesothelioma rarely has these targetable mutations, so treatment usually relies on immunotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery in selected cases and radiation. The surgeons, staging systems and trial options also differ. A misdiagnosis can lead to the wrong treatment path, which is why confirmation by an experienced pathologist is so important. Clinical trials are also usually designed for one disease or the other, so an accurate diagnosis opens the right trial options. If you were first treated for lung cancer, share that history with your new team.

Mesothelioma is strongly associated with asbestos, which makes the link to exposure relatively clear in legal and trust fund settings. Lung cancer has many causes, especially smoking, so claims usually require more medical evidence connecting the cancer to asbestos. Some trusts and courts treat the two conditions under different criteria. If you have either diagnosis and a history of exposure, keeping detailed pathology, smoking history and work records helps any review. Records that clearly state the confirmed diagnosis, including the stains used, are especially useful. A case review can explain which route fits your situation.

1. 1

   Ask your pathologist which stains confirmed mesothelioma rather than lung cancer.

2. 2

   Request a second pathology opinion if the diagnosis was described as uncertain.

3. 3

   Keep an accurate record of your smoking history, including years and amounts.

4. 4

   Ask whether genetic tumor testing is relevant to your diagnosis.