Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a such a rare type of cancer that many individuals have no idea they may have it. At the start, symptoms are often unnoticed. In fact, some people experience no symptoms whatsoever. Unfortunately, this leads to the mesothelioma being undiagnosed and/or misdiagnosed for several years. It is crucial that individuals seek out medical help at the immediate signs of mesothelioma. If the mesothelioma remains undiagnosed and untreated, the cancer will ultimately spread throughout the body.

Latency Period

Mesothelioma can lay dormant for some fifty years after asbestos exposure. It is extremely important to inform your doctor if you know you have been exposed to asbestos. Once this happens, your doctor can being to schedule regular screenings. All it takes is a mild exposure to asbestos to result in mesothelioma. Your doctor should take measures to monitor your lungs closely to verify if any signs of the disease become present. You are more likely to have a higher survival rate if the cancer is found in its early stages. Its best to be caught even before the onset of symptoms as this leads to the highest rate of survival.

Basic Symptoms

Early on, you will notice a shortness of breath and a heavy feeling in the chest region. Almost ninety percent of all patients notice both of these symptoms. Far too many people do not seek medical attention at this stage because the symptoms do not seem so serious. As fluid builds in the lungs it causes this heaviness or shortness of breath. These symptoms absolutley must be taken seriously, especially if there is a history of exposure to asbestos.

Types

Pleural Mesotheliom is the type that most often occurs in the lung or chest region of the body.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the type where tumors are often found in the abdominal cavity area of the body.
Pericardial mesothelioma is the type that occurs around the lining of the heart.
Symptoms associated with each of these types are similar and can overlap one another.

Additional Symptoms

The most common symptoms that occur with pleural mesothelioma are back, chest or side pain, difficulty swallowing, cough, fatigue and weight loss. The most common symptoms that occur with peritoneal mesothelioma are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, back pain, anemia and bowel obstruction. Both types of can leave you feeling extremely weak. It is very important an individual visits their doctor if they notice any of these. Again, the longer left untreated, the lower the rate of survival.

Similar Diseases and Illnesses

The symptoms discussed above could also indicate Asbestosis. This too is a result of asbestos exposure. However, just because a diagnosis reveals asbestosis does not mean it will not develop into mesothelioma at a later date. Therefore, a person must have their symptoms checked to evaluate whether they may be benign or malignant.