Smoking and Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is seen the most throughout people exposed to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lung, making it difficult to breathe. Since a patient’s breathing is inhibited by mesothelioma, smoking can make it worse. Smoking can already cause asthma, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections. Prior smoking can irritate mesothelioma cancer more, and continually smoking can speed up the cancer.

In some cases, the cigarette filters even contained asbestos. Kent, a prominent cigarette company, had asbestos from 1952 to 1956, marketing them to “safer” smoking.

Although smoking itself doesn’t directly contribute to mesothelioma, it has worsened the outcome for diagnosed patients. Smoking with a mesothelioma diagnosis is more likely to die quicker than someone who quit.