Symptoms of mesothelioma can vary, but the most common general symptoms include: shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; coughing; pain in chest or abdomen; fluid in the chest, lungs, or abdomen; weight loss; loss of appetite; inability to sleep; husky voice; difficulty swallowing. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

 

Early Mesothelioma Symptoms

Troubled breathing and coughing tend to be the first two symptoms that bring a patient to the doctor’s office. Both difficulty breathing and persistent coughing are caused by the lung’s inability to expand properly due to tumors in the pleural region. The growing tumors cause the pleura, pericardium, or peritoneum to expand, thus allow fluid to enter. That generally causes pain — acute to severe — in the affected regions, such as the chest or abdomen. Breathing difficulties also make it hard to sleep and often result in loss of appetite and, eventually, weight loss.

 

Symptoms of Pleural & Peritoneal Mesothelioma

• Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

• Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia and fever.

If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing or swelling of the neck or face. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

 

Symptoms Resemble Other Illnesses

Just like any other disease, the symptoms of mesothelioma vary from case to case and with the severity of the illness. The type of mesothelioma — whether pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial — also determines what the symptoms might be. Often times, the general overall health of the individual, as well as his/her age, may also play a role in how the patient is affected by the disease and which symptoms are most bothersome.

 

One of the most difficult problems with diagnosing mesothelioma and connecting the symptoms with the disease is the fact that so many of the symptoms — both individually and in tandem — can easily be mistaken for other more common diseases like flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, and others. A doctor well versed in mesothelioma treatment will take time to investigate a patient’s history and hopefully connect past exposure to asbestos with the symptoms.