Asbestosis vs. Mesothelioma

Handling Asbestos Exposure Claims Nationwide Across Canada

Difference Between Asbestosis and Mesothelioma

Asbestosis and mesothelioma are diseases most often caused by asbestos exposure. The most significant difference between the diseases is asbestosis is not a form of cancer and is limited to the respiratory tract and lungs, while mesothelioma is a cancer that is typically in the lungs or abdomen. Asbestos Canada offers legal representation throughout Canada for asbestos exposure. We’ll fight to get the compensation you deserve. Our legal team is here to explain the differences between asbestosis and mesothelioma to help you better understand the diseases. Contact us to learn more.

What Is Asbestosis?

Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease. Asbestos fibres cause stiffness and scarring of the lungs, making it difficult to take deep breaths. Asbestosis typically occurs in people with extremely high exposure to asbestos over time. Severe asbestosis may lead to shortness of breath, chest pain, an ongoing cough, and respiratory failure. If you have been exposed to asbestos and breathed it in, the fibres get stuck in your lungs forever. As you get older this causing scarring on the lungs which makes it hard to breathe.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in mesothelial tissue throughout the body. Asbestos exposure is the only cause of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms include ongoing shortness of breath, weight loss, buildup of fluid in the lungs, breathing problems, chest pain, coughing up blood, and eventual death. There is no cure for mesothelioma, but there are many treatment options to you’re your quality of life and slow down the progression. There are several types of mesothelioma: pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, and testicular.

How Do Asbestos-Related Diseases Develop?

Asbestos fibres are tiny needle-like mineral compounds that spread through the air when disturbed. The human body cannot break down the asbestos fibres once they are swallowed or inhaled, causing the fibres to get stuck in the lungs. Asbestos fibres trigger the immune system’s inflammatory response to remove the fibres. The inflammation causes scarring and tissue damage, leading to asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestosis vs. Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, and asbestosis is a form of pulmonary fibrosis. The common symptoms of asbestosis and mesothelioma include:

Fatigue
Chest Pain
Loss of Appetite
Ongoing Cough
Shortness of Breath

Mesothelioma may be present in the abdominal area, in the form of Peritoneal Mesothelioma, so patients will sometimes experience:

Stomach Pain
Constipation
Arms and Face Swelling

Prognosis & Treatment

Mesothelioma patients are typically only given a few months to a few years to live. About half of mesothelioma patients live at least a year after diagnosis. Asbestosis patients can live for decades with the disease but must adjust their lifestyle to include pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy. Mesothelioma treatment options include cancer treatments and surgery. The treatment and therapy depend on the mesothelioma cancer’s stage and cell type. Many asbestosis patients experience a decreased quality of life due to lung tissue scarring that makes breathing difficult.

Contact Asbestos Canada Lawyers

Our Miskin Law team has helped thousands of Canadians get mesothelioma compensation. We understand the process and will help you through each step. Mesothelioma patients often don’t know they have any problems for decades after asbestos exposure. We will work to find the source of asbestos exposure and fight for compensation. Contact Asbestos Canada to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers.