Mesothelioma Symptoms - The first symptoms of mesothelioma include chest or abdominal pain, bloating and shortness of breath, depending on the location of the cancer. Because the signs of the early stages can be minimal, doctors often mistakenly think of them as normal pain and pain or symptoms of less serious illness.
Mesothelioma tumors begin as small nodules on the walls of the lungs or stomach. Cancer does not cause symptoms until the tumor grows and spreads. This is usually around stage 3 and 4 cancers, when the tumor begins to squeeze the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
Recognizing the symptoms of mesothelioma early in the development of cancer is almost impossible because this disease does not produce the initial symptoms to be identified.
Mesothelioma tumors begin as small nodules on the walls of the lungs or stomach. Cancer does not cause symptoms until the tumor grows and spreads. This is usually around stage 3 and 4 cancers, when the tumor begins to squeeze the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
Recognizing the symptoms of mesothelioma early in the development of cancer is almost impossible because this disease does not produce the initial symptoms to be identified.
When signs of cancer begin to appear, the most common mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Dry cough or wheezing
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Respiratory complications
- Pain in the chest or abdomen
- Fever or night sweats
- Pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs)
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
Most early mesothelioma diagnoses occur accidentally through routine X-rays or blood tests. When someone identifies warning signs, cancer often spreads, making it difficult for doctors to treat it.
Informing your primary care physician about the history of asbestos exposure and looking for cancer examinations can help lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma earlier than normal and a much better chance of qualifying for life.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma by Stage
In the early stages of mesothelioma, you may notice:
- Dry cough or wheezing
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Hard to breath
- Pain in the chest or abdomen
- Pleural effusion (fluid buildup) makes these symptoms worse
In the final stages of mesothelioma, you may notice:
- Pain increases
- Anemia
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Respiratory complications
- Difficulty swallowing
- Intestinal obstruction
Common Symptoms by Type of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
- Faint or hard breath
- Dry cough or wheezing
- Pleural effusion
- Cough up blood
- Aches
- Blood clotting disorders
- Chest pain
- Hard to breathe
- Reduces chest expansion
The exact stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis - the extent of its development - it is impossible to predict only symptoms. Most patients are not diagnosed until stage 3 or 4 because symptoms do not develop until the next stage. The earlier the cancer is caught, the better the prognosis.
Overcoming symptoms as soon as they develop can improve medical outcomes. When symptoms are identified and treated quickly, patients often benefit from a higher quality of life and can live longer if symptoms and cancer are controlled more quickly.
Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Weight loss
- Abdominal distention
- Hernias
- Loss of appetite
- Feel full
- Abdominal swelling
- Fatigue
- Stomach fluid buildup
- Intestinal obstruction
Doctors can provide chemotherapy drugs that shrink mesothelioma peritoneum tumors and slow the growth and spread of cancer. Can be given before, during or after surgery. In some cases, doctors offer chemotherapy as the only treatment option. Chemotherapy drugs considered effective in treatment include pemetrexed, cisplatin, carboplatin and gemcitabine.
Doctors now see amazing results with HIPEC. After experimental treatment, HIPEC begins with surgery to remove all visible tumors from the patient's peritoneum. Furthermore, doctors introduced a solution of heated salt water containing chemotherapy drugs.
A machine pumps drugs throughout the patient's stomach. This helps destroy cancer cells left behind after surgery. Nearly half of peritoneal mesothelioma cancer patients who receive HIPEC can live at least five years after diagnosis.
Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma
- Hard to breath
- Chest pain
- Cardiac palpitations
- Heart murmurs
- Fever or night sweats
- Fatigue
This form of cancer related to asbestos develops in the lining around the heart. This is one of the rarest types of disease. Symptoms include difficulty breathing and chest pain. They originate from thickening of the pericardium, the layer around the heart.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma Testis
- Hydrocele (fluid in the scrotum)
- Swollen testicles
- Lump in the scrotum
- Testicular pain
Lumps in the testes are the most common signs of testicular mesothelioma - the rarest of all types. This accounts for less than 1 percent of all cases of mesothelioma.
When do the symptoms of mesothelioma appear?
Symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers first appear in small and smooth ways. This occurs after the cancer has spread, which is around stage 3 or stage 4. Some are so small that people and their doctors think they are symptoms of other disorders or ignore them altogether.Mesothelioma begins to develop about 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. This latent period is not related to the onset of delayed mesothelioma symptoms, but this concept gets easily confused because both involve unexpected delays.
Symptoms usually do not make a real impact on a person's life until the cancer has reached the final stage. Most people who get any type of mesothelioma are diagnosed in stage 3 or stage 4. This is considered the final or final stage.
Although the latent period of decades is similar to every type of cancer, some studies show it is shorter for people with peritoneal mesothelioma. A 2011 study found women had a latency period that was slightly longer than men.
Early Mesothelioma Symptoms Can Donate Misdiagnosis
Non-specialist specialists often mistaken for pleural mesothelioma for less serious conditions. These include pneumonia, bronchial infection and COPD. People with peritoneal mesothelioma can initially be diagnosed with ovarian cancer or irritable bowel syndrome. Pericardial mesothelioma is so rare that doctors can easily disrupt it with heart failure, coronary heart disease and other general heart disease.A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can delay proper treatment. Anyone who has a history of exposure to asbestos should tell their primary care doctor about their exposure. Also ask about annual cancer checks. If you develop stomach or lung problems in your life, be sure to mention the history of your asbestos exposure to medical professionals who provide your care.
What Affects Symptoms of Mesothelioma Symptoms?
The main factors that influence the onset of mesothelioma symptoms are the growth and spread of tumors.Symptoms of mesothelioma are caused by tumors that suppress the nerves, organs, bones and other parts of the body.
- Chest pain is mainly caused by tumors that have begun to spread to the chest wall.
- Breathing difficulties are caused by tumors that limit full expansion of the lungs.
- Pleural effusion is caused by a tumor that has spread to the lymphatic system, including the lymph nodes, preventing the fluid from flowing out correctly from the pleural layer.
The size of a small tumor is the main reason why mesothelioma patients do not experience symptoms in the early stages of cancer growth. Mesothelioma tumors are usually not large enough to suppress the body until stage 3 or stage 4.
What Symptoms Shows Cancer Spread?
Symptoms such as nerve pain piercing the arm may indicate a cancer invasion has occurred locally in the chest. Mesothelioma tends to spread locally throughout the chest or abdominal cavity more often than it spreads to distant locations throughout the body.Common symptoms Stage 4
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
- Palsy nerve larynx (hoarseness)
- Horner's syndrome (nerve damage to the face)
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Nerve involvement (on the arm)
- Superior vena cava syndrome (vein obstruction that returns blood from the upper body to the heart)
Finding a Specialist
If you have a history of asbestos exposure and believe you have symptoms of mesothelioma, seek medical attention immediately. Tell your doctor about your exposure and tell them about possible asbestos-related diseases. You may need to get a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist.How Can I Overcome Mesothelioma Symptoms?
Symptoms of mesothelioma result from the cancer itself and may overlap with side effects caused by cancer treatment. Side effects of cancer treatment usually fade after treatment ends. Symptoms of mesothelioma tend to develop along with cancer. Symptoms management is very important for quality of life.Talk to your oncologist about working with a palliative care specialist. These doctors specialize in managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Many cancer centers now offer palliative care to patients undergoing treatment, even those who participate in clinical trials.
