Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

Patients will typically develop symptoms of Mesothelioma between 30 and 40 years after they are initially exposed to asbestos. The disease will often take several decades to develop and the symptoms do not generally become apparent until after the cancer is present. Because Mesothelioma carries such a great latency period, the disease is very often misdiagnosed as the symptoms of Mesothelioma are very similar to more common and easily treatable illnesses. Unfortunately, the delay caused by misdiagnosis can severely limit treatment options and effectiveness.

Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Early symptoms of Mesothelioma are generally absent in patients, leading to the disease’s late diagnosis. However, those individuals with a history of asbestos exposure (the primary cause of Mesothelioma), are encouraged to seek medical screening for the disease, and undergo regular chest X-rays to monitor any signs of asbestos inhalation, even if the symptoms of Mesothelioma are not currently present. Early detection of Mesothelioma can mean the difference between succumbing to the disease quickly and maintaining a decent quality of life while fighting the illness.

There are four types of Mesothelioma and each develops differing symptoms.

Symptoms Of Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma is the more common form of the cancer and accounts for approximately two-thirds of all Mesothelioma cases. The symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma include:

Persistent dry or raspy cough with little or no phlegm.
Coughing up blood (hemoptysis).
Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia).
Night sweats or fever.
Unexplained weight loss of 10 percent or more.
Constant fatigue.
Persistent pain in the chest or rib area, or painful breathing.
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that occurs even when at rest.
The appearance of lumps under the skin on the chest.

The symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma occur as a result of the thickening of the pleural membrane, caused by the rapid production of cancerous cells, leading to the buildup of fluid between membrane layers. Tissue thickening and this buildup of fluid place added pressure on the lungs, causing the reduced respiratory function.

Symptoms Of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma accounts for about 25 to 30 percent of all Mesothelioma diagnoses, and the symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma include:

Night sweats or fever.
Unexplained weight loss.
Swelling or pain in the abdomen.
Anemia.
Constant fatigue.
Diarrhea, constipation or any change in bowel habits.
Nausea or vomiting.
The appearance of lumps under the skin on the abdomen.

The symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma are caused by the thickening of the peritoneal membrane and the resulting buildup of fluid between membrane layers. These changes in membrane composition place pressure on the abdominal region and organs, causing a patient to demonstrate symptoms of the cancer.

Symptoms Of Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of the disease and accounts for less than 5 percent of all Mesothelioma cases. The symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma are known to include:

Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat.
Chest pain.
Difficulty breathing, even when resting (dyspnea).
Fever or night sweats.
Generalized fatigue.

Because Pericardial Mesothelioma is so rare, the recognized body of symptoms is not as well-developed as with the more common types of Mesothelioma. It is extremely difficult to diagnose which correlates to a poor prognosis among Pericardial Mesothelioma patients.

Symptoms Of Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular Mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of cancer and less than 100 cases of the disease have been recorded in the last 60 years. With so few cases recorded, very little is known about the symptoms of Testicular Mesothelioma. The only known symptoms of Testicular Mesothelioma are the appearance of testicular lumps which may or may not be painful.

If you or a family member have a history of working in areas where asbestos is used and you have displayed any of the symptoms of Mesothelioma mentioned above, I urge you to seek the advice of your Doctor as a matter of urgency.