Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma Symptoms | Symptoms of Mesothelioma | Mesothelioma | Mesothelioma Prognosis | Mesothelioma Symptoms Info
The symptoms and signs of mesothelioma are often confused with other diseases, as they are very general and non-specific. Because of this, along with its aggressive nature, mesothelioma often leads to a very grim prognosis. Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma are the two most common forms of this cancer. These two forms of mesothelioma are very distinct and therefore, their symptoms and signs are also unique.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the least common form. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss, blockage of the colon, problems with blood clotting, fever, and moderate to severe pain in the abdominal area.
Pleural Mesothelioma
The more common Pleural Mesothelioma can include symptoms such as weight loss, coughing fits, fever, inability to control temperature, chest pains, and difficulty breathing, fatigue, wheezing, and shortness of breath and flooding of lungs with the pleural fluid.
Percardial Mesothelioma
The rarest form of this disease is Pericardial Mesothelioma, which starts in the cavity surrounding the heart. With pericardial Mesothelioma, the tumors grow in the tissues that surround the heart and can spread from there. Pericardial Mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.
Mesothelioma Common Symptoms
As the time passes and the disease grows older, the symptoms of all the three types of Mesothelioma—Pleural, Peritoneal and Pericardial—start appearing in more vigorous form. But we can conclude that the common symptoms are :
- Obdurate cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Weight loss
- Breathing difficulty
- Fever and difficulty in swallowing food
- Pain in the abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Palpitation of the heart
- Vomiting
- Bowel obstruction
- Continuous chronic cough causing chest
- Stomach pains
- Abnormal blood clotting activity
- Anemia
- Recurring infections of bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Pain in the bones
- Swelling of the neck or face
- Jaundice
- Pleural Effusion
- Sinking in of an eyeball
- Droopy eyelids
- Abnormal pupil constriction
- Anhidrosis (which is a lack of sweating)
- Lumps
- Aches and Pains throughout the Body
If you believe you are in this category, and you are at high risk for the condition, (you are elderly and have been exposed to asbestos), discuss with your doctor getting checked out for the condition just to be on the safe side.
Because the symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to several other diseases, it can be rather difficult to diagnose this disease. Symptoms could sometimes manifest themselves after a period of 50 years. So if you have been exposed to asbestos fibers please keep a watch out for these symptoms. If you are around asbestos, then you should know that you are living or working in a high-risk environment.
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[...] To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called Thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called Paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation Therapy and Surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms. [...]
[...] most internal organs. Mesothelioma is particularly hard to diagnose because it shows similar symptoms to many other more common diseases. It has three common types namely, Pleural, Peritoneal, and [...]