What is the Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the early signs and symptoms of the disease can be subtle or mistaken. Symptoms are all too frequently ignored or dismissed by people who are inclined to attribute them to common every day ailments. Sometimes patients live with symptoms for up to 6 months before being diagnosed but usually the symptoms are present for two to three months prior to a mesothelioma diagnosis.
About
60% of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma experience lower back pain
or side chest pain, and there are frequent reports of shortness of breath.
Lower numbers of people may experience difficulty swallowing, or have a
persistent cough, fever, weight loss or fatigue. Additional symptoms that some
patients experience are muscle weakness, loss of sensory capability, coughing
up blood, facial and arm swelling, and hoarseness.
Peritoneal
mesothelioma originates in the abdomen and as a result, symptoms often include
abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Fluid buildup may occur in
the abdomen as well as a result of the cancer.
Asbestos
exposure is considered the primary risk factor for the development of
the cancer. Anyone previously exposed to asbestos displaying any of these
symptoms should seek medical attention from their doctor first, only to be
referred to a doctor who specializes in the treatment of
mesothelioma and thoracic oncology after receiving a positive
diagnosis.
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How long does it take for mesothelioma
symptoms to appear?
One
of the most unique facts about mesothelioma is that the disease is
characterized by a long latency period that is very often associated with the
disease. The latency period is the amount of time that elapses from the first
point of asbestos exposure to the point where symptoms begin to appear so that
a diagnosis can be made. In some mesothelioma cases the latency
period is reported to be 10 years but the average latency for the majority
of cases is between 35 and 40 years. As a result, the cancer often progresses
to later stages before a diagnosis is made. When diagnosed in the
later stages, mesothelioma treatment options become more limited and are less
effective.
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Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Provided
below is a list of symptoms that mesothelioma patients may experience. Please
click on a symptom to learn
more
about it
Dysphagia
Pleural mesothelioma patients often
develop difficulty swallowing (esophageal dysphagia) as the mesothelium continues
to grow on the lungs.
Fluid Effusion
An effusion can occur in
mesothelioma patients when there is fluid buildup affecting either the pleura
or pericardium. This may need to be drained in a relatively limited surgical
procedure to control the effusion and associated symptoms.
Anemia
Mesothelioma
patients diagnosed with anemia have a lower than normal red blood cell count or
hemoglobin in the blood.
Blood Clotting
Disorder
A
symptom experienced by many mesothelioma patients that can lead to anemia and
other serious complications if not given appropriate medical attention.
Bowel
Obstruction
Bowel
obstructions can be a direct effect of the cancer. It is a very painful symptom
that can sometimes develop in peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
Chest Pain
Often
experienced in pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma patients,
chest pain can develop as the tumor grows and places strain on the lungs and
heart.
Hemoptysis
Hemoptysis,
or the symptom of coughing up blood, can have its origins in the lungs, bronchi
or trachea of mesothelioma patients.
Nausea
Nausea
is experienced in a number of cancer patients, as it is often a side effect of
chemotherapy treatment and sometimes the underlying cancer. Those diagnosed
with peritoneal mesothelioma may also experience nausea as a result of
increasing abdominal pressure.
Peritoneal Effusion
Peritoneal
mesothelioma patients may experience a buildup of fluid in the peritoneum as
the tumor continues to grow. This can result in an effusion which can inhibit
the function of abdominal organs.
Peritoneal
Effusion
In
pleural mesothelioma patients, pleural effusion may develop when there is a
large amount of fluid present in the pleura, the lining between the lungs and
chest cavity.
Weight Loss
Weight
loss can occur in mesothelioma patients as a side effect from cancer treatment
or as the result of other symptoms that may also be present, such as difficulty
swallowing or nausea.
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