Does Smoking Cause Mesothelioma?

Cancer is undoubtedly a frightening diagnosis, and sometimes doctors have difficulty trying to pinpoint what has caused it. In some cases, the finger of fault is pointed at cigarette smoking. However, there are some types of cancer that are not caused by smoking.

Identification

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, not by smoking cigarettes, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, exposure to asbestos in conjunction with smoking may increase a person's risk of developing lung cancer.

Asbestosis

According to the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center, smoking can irritate the lungs and increase the risk of asbestosis. This is a breathing condition caused by asbestos exposure. While asbestosis and mesothelioma are completely different conditions, asbestosis can play a role in the development of cancer-causing cells.

Types

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is the thin membrane on the major organs. There are different types of this disease. Pleural malignant mesothelioma develops in the thin membrane that covers the lungs. The other types of mesothelioma are peritoneal, which develops in the abdomen, and tunica vaginalis mesothelioma, which develops in the mesothelium of a man's testicles. Pericardial mesothelioma is found in the tissue around the heart.

Symptoms

Sometimes the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are similar to those of lung of cancer. For example, this type of mesothelioma causes shortness of breath, discomfort with coughing and breathing, chest pain and a dry cough. It may also lead to unexplained loss of weight and lumps in the chest. According to the Mayo Clinic, however, symptoms of the disease can take decades to develop after exposure to asbestos.
Peritoneal mesothelioma causes pain in the abdomen, swelling in the abdominal area, bowel changes, abdominal lumps and unexplained weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, the forms of the disease that affect the testicles and tissues around the heart are so rare that the symptoms are not fully known and understood. However, the heart form may lead to chest pain, and the testicle form may present with lumps in the area.

Misconception

Mesothelioma is most often linked with asbestos exposure. According to the National Cancer Institute, asbestos is responsible for about 70 to 80 percent of cases. However, it is a misconception that asbestos exposure is responsible for all cases. In some cases, the disease develops in people who have no known asbestos exposure.

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