Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma symptoms manifest in different ways depending on the location of the cancer and other factors. For example, pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart, produces symptoms that are different from those caused by pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs.
One thing that makes diagnosing mesothelioma difficult is that the symptoms of mesothelioma are often very similar to other conditions that affect the lungs, heart, and abdominal areas. Furthermore, the conditions with symptoms similar to mesothelioma are less serious ailments. Thus, many mesothelioma patients are unaware of the severity of their condition.
Mesothelioma has a long latent period in the body. This means that it takes a long time—as much as 10 to even 50 years—between time of exposure to asbestos and the development of symptoms. This means that asbestos poisoning can take decades to cause cancer in the body and symptoms do not develop until the cancer does (and not until the cancer is in the advanced stages). Unfortunately, once mesothelioma does develop and produce symptoms, the cancer progresses rapidly, often taking less than a year to prove fatal.
Early diagnosis of mesothelioma gives patients the best chance at an optimal prognosis, given this disease. This is important for people who have been exposed to asbestos to understand. Anyone with a history of asbestos exposure should learn about the symptoms of mesothelioma and seek medical attention if any such symptoms should develop. It is also important to tell a doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past so that they can take this into consideration when determining the cause of your symptoms.
Patients who have been exposed to asbestos but have not developed mesothelioma symptoms should still speak with a doctor, who may recommend routine chest x-rays or tests of pulmonary function, which can help to diagnose mesothelioma as early as possible.
When they do develop, mesothelioma symptoms vary depending on the specific type of cancer. The following is the list of mesothelioma symptoms based on the type of mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
The most prevalent form of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma account for roughly two-thirds of all mesothelioma cases. This form of mesothelioma-related cancer affects the lungs.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include:
- The development of lumps under the chest area
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Dry or coarse cough that persists
- Coughing up blood
- Trouble swallowing
- Persistent pain in the rib area or chest area
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Fever
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Approximately 25 to 30 percent of all mesothelioma cases are diagnosed as peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdominal lining.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma:
- Development of lump(s) under the skin of the abdomen
- Stomach swelling
- Pain in the abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
- Anemia
- Bowel problems (e.g. diarrhea and constipation)
- Digestive problems (e.g. nausea and vomiting)
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Fever
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
The third most common form of mesothelioma—pericardial mesothelioma—affects the lining of the heart. Only five percent of all mesothelioma patients develop this form of asbestos cancer.
Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include:
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Irregular heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Trouble breathing
- Fever
- Night sweats
Testicular Mesothelioma Symptoms
With only 100 known cases, testicular mesothelioma is an atypical form of asbestos related cancer. This type of cancer is not well understood by doctors. From what we do know, testicular mesothelioma produces symptoms such as testicular lumps, and other non-specific symptoms such as fatigue and fever.
What to do if you have developed mesothelioma symptoms
Mesothelioma symptoms are often very similar to the types of symptoms produced by other less serious health conditions. For this reason, it is very important for those who have been exposed to asbestos in the past to be vigilant in their health screenings and early reporting of any potential mesothelioma symptoms. It is better to be overcautious in reporting any possible mesothelioma symptoms than to ignore vague or unclear symptoms that may indicate the development of this rare but deadly cancer.
Please see our other resources on the different types of mesothelioma, as well as information about mesothelioma diagnosis, mesothelioma treatment, and your legal rights if you have developed mesothelioma.
