Because of how rare mesothelioma – and how little information is easily available – misconceptions about the disease are common. One of the biggest myths about mesothelioma is that it is a type of lung cancer. In reality, mesothelioma can develop in many areas of the body. While pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs, it is still not technically considered a type of lung cancer.
Some other common misconceptions about mesothelioma include:
- Smoking can cause mesothelioma – Smoking does not cause or increase your risk of mesothelioma. However, smokers certainly have a higher chance of developing lung cancer if they have been exposed to asbestos in the past, since smoking degrades the functions of the lungs and can make them more vulnerable to lung cancer.
- Mesothelioma is hereditary – Family members can develop mesothelioma due to secondary asbestos exposure (e.g. a spouse bringing home asbestos fibers on their clothes), but it is not hereditary.
- Mesothelioma only develops in older patients – Although the majority of mesothelioma victims are age 60 or older, young adults and even children can develop the disease due to secondary exposure.
If you have further questions about mesothelioma, please contact The Law Office of Brown | Kiely, LLP today or call (410) 625-9330 to speak with one of our experienced Baltimore mesothelioma attorneys.
