Mesothelioma Symptoms:
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 can easily be mistaken for other more common (and less serious) chest or respiratory 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. Patients can aslo assist their doctor if they were knowingly exposed. Anyone that was ever exposed to asbestos, even if it was decades ago, should inform their doctor of the exposure. That information will not only aid the doctor in diagnosis but will also help eliminate the need for many costly and uncomfortable tests that may be ordered while attempting to arrrive at a conclusive determination.
Tests are being developed that will help diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage, even before the most common symptoms appear. It is hoped that these tests will aid in treating the disease before it reaches its most advanced stages.
Types Of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the lining around the lungs (the “pleura”), abdomen (the “peritoneum”) or heart (the “pericardium”). In contrast, lung cancer refers to a malignancy of the lung itself. And, unlike lung cancer, which may have other causes as well as asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is virtually always the result of exposure to asbestos. It generally does not appear until decades after the asbestos exposure.
Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be very difficult because its symptoms may not appear for decades after exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, this lengthy time delay not only prevents diagnosis, but also complicates treatment efforts, given that mesothelioma is usually detected in the late stages, after serious side effects begin to present themselves.
The common symptoms of mesothelioma vary according to the cancer’s location. Because of the similarity of the diseases, however, many of the symptoms are overlapping. Most mesothelioma patients experience shortness of breath and generalized fatigue, but more acute pain will likely be more apparent in the chest for pleural and pericardial mesothelioma patients and in the abdominal region for peritoneal patients.
Learn more about the specific symptoms associated with three kinds of asbestos-related malignant mesothelioma:
Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma mirror those of other more common physical conditions. In fact, this is another factor that contributes to the difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma; its symptoms are often mistaken for the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia or heart disease. Still, patients with any of the symptoms discussed below and a history of asbestos exposure should see a physician. If symptoms persist, you should ask your doctor for a thorough evaluation.
Finally, this discussion is not intended as a tool for self-diagnosis, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consulting with a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. This information is designed to help you learn about mesothelioma.
Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be very difficult because its symptoms may not appear for decades after exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, this lengthy time delay not only prevents diagnosis, but also complicates treatment efforts, given that mesothelioma is usually detected in the late stages, after serious side effects begin to present themselves.
The common symptoms of mesothelioma vary according to the cancer’s location. Because of the similarity of the diseases, however, many of the symptoms are overlapping. Most mesothelioma patients experience shortness of breath and generalized fatigue, but more acute pain will likely be more apparent in the chest for pleural and pericardial mesothelioma patients and in the abdominal region for peritoneal patients.
Learn more about the specific symptoms associated with three kinds of asbestos-related malignant mesothelioma:
- Pleural Mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs;
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which attacks the membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity; and
- Pericardial Mesothelioma, which invades the membrane around the heart.
- Cell Types of Mesothelioma
Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma mirror those of other more common physical conditions. In fact, this is another factor that contributes to the difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma; its symptoms are often mistaken for the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia or heart disease. Still, patients with any of the symptoms discussed below and a history of asbestos exposure should see a physician. If symptoms persist, you should ask your doctor for a thorough evaluation.
Finally, this discussion is not intended as a tool for self-diagnosis, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consulting with a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. This information is designed to help you learn about mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
In the early stages of malignant mesothelioma, there are no indications of pleural mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, usually in a work environment. When a person inhales asbestos dust, the minute fibers stick to the lining of the lungs, called the pleura. Fifteen to 40 years can pass before any symptoms manifest, and the symptoms are easily mistaken for other, less serious respiratory conditions, like the flu, a cold, laryngitis, pneumonia, or whooping cough. Since the advent of symptoms indicates that the disease is in its final stages, delay in diagnosis can impact prognosis and treatment in a negative way. One way that a patient can help his doctor reach a correct diagnosis is with communication. The medical history of any patient who was ever exposed to asbestos should contain the fact that he was exposed to asbestos.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma, totaling about 75% of all malignant mesothelioma cases. Symptoms develop after the disease has reached the late stages, often too late to help the patient recover.
Other, less common symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, coughing blood, fatigue, muscle weakness, and sensory loss. A small percentage, 3%, of pleural mesothelioma patients, are asymptomatic and never exhibit any signs of sickness.
How Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms Develop:
The pleura is comprised of two layers of protective covering with specialized cells that secrete a liquid that lubricates movement and eliminates friction between the lungs and other organs. Tiny, sharp asbestos fibers inflame the pleura cells and lead to the growth of deadly tumors. Some people exposed to asbestos fibers first develop asbestosis, a less severe condition that can later be followed by malignant mesothelioma.
Decades may go by with the asbestos fibers lodged in the pleura. Eventually, tumors grow and fill the spaces that allow fluids to drain, and at the same time the inflamed cells produce more fluid, resulting in fluid buildup in the lung lining. This buildup results in discomfort and then severe pain, impedes lung expansion and disrupts normal breathing functions. If pleural mesothelioma goes undiagnosed and reaches the advanced stages, the cancerous cells can spread, or metastasize, to nearby organs including the heart, lymphatic system, and abdomen.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma, totaling about 75% of all malignant mesothelioma cases. Symptoms develop after the disease has reached the late stages, often too late to help the patient recover.
- Shortness of breath – the patient may find it hard to breathe deeply and feel like he is not getting enough air.
- Breathing pain – the patient may feel a pain under the ribcage. This is known as pleurisy.
- Lower back pain – fluid in the lungs is often associated with lower back pain.
- Painful cough – the weight and pressure of the fluid may result in a painful cough, similar to that caused by pneumonia.
- Dry cough – a dry, shallow cough without sputum can be caused by lung tumors.
- Unexplained weight loss – weight loss in excess of 10% body weight is an indicator of cancer.
- Lumps – Tumors can sometimes be felt as lumps of tissue under the skin of the chest.
Other, less common symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, coughing blood, fatigue, muscle weakness, and sensory loss. A small percentage, 3%, of pleural mesothelioma patients, are asymptomatic and never exhibit any signs of sickness.
How Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms Develop:
The pleura is comprised of two layers of protective covering with specialized cells that secrete a liquid that lubricates movement and eliminates friction between the lungs and other organs. Tiny, sharp asbestos fibers inflame the pleura cells and lead to the growth of deadly tumors. Some people exposed to asbestos fibers first develop asbestosis, a less severe condition that can later be followed by malignant mesothelioma.
Decades may go by with the asbestos fibers lodged in the pleura. Eventually, tumors grow and fill the spaces that allow fluids to drain, and at the same time the inflamed cells produce more fluid, resulting in fluid buildup in the lung lining. This buildup results in discomfort and then severe pain, impedes lung expansion and disrupts normal breathing functions. If pleural mesothelioma goes undiagnosed and reaches the advanced stages, the cancerous cells can spread, or metastasize, to nearby organs including the heart, lymphatic system, and abdomen.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare malignant mesothelioma that affects the lining that protects the heart. Like other types of malignant mesothelioma, , e.g., peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, and testicular mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma is caused by exposure to toxic asbestos fibers, although how the fibers end up in the heart lining, or pericardial sac, is unknown. The prevailing theory is that the asbestos fibers are inhaled and travel through the bloodstream until they reach the heart, where they lodge in the spaces in the pericardial covering. So few cases are documented that the correlation between asbestos exposure and pericardial mesothelioma has not been verified with certainty, but a significant number of patients have confirmed exposure to asbestos, and all other types of malignant mesothelioma have been unquestionably linked to asbestos.
Several decades may pass before malignant mesothelioma tumors begin to develop and symptoms appear. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms do not manifest until the end stages of the disease, and early detection is very unlikely. Generally, the only opportunity for early detection is another problem that requires careful examination of the heart. Even then, pericardial mesothelioma is unexpected, easy to miss, and difficult to identify.
When a patient is diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, the prognosis is almost always grim. The proximity to the heart, coupled with the average age of malignant mesothelioma patients – over 55 – and the advanced stage of the cancer, severely limits treatments and rules out most opportunities for surgery. By the time symptoms are evident, the average patient has six months or less to live.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common type of malignant mesothelioma, totaling about 5% of malignant mesothelioma cases. The following symptoms are common:
How Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms Develop:
Pericardial mesothelioma attacks the protective sac that covers the heart, called the pericardium. The membrane that makes up the pericardium is made up of an inner and outer layer of mesothelial cells. These specialized cells secrete a fluid that acts as a lubricant to prevent friction as the organs move within the body.
The outer layer of the pericardium is the parietal layer, also known as the parietal sac. The inner layer is the visceral layer, also known as the epicardium. The outer parietal layer is part of the membrane that protects the entire chest cavity. The visceral layer surrounds only the heart.
When asbestos fibers lodge in the pericardial tissues, the cells eventually become inflamed. This causes the cells to swell and produce extra fluid. At the same time, malignant mesothelioma tumors begin to grow. Pericardial mesothelioma tumors are diffuse and tend to spread until they cover the entire heart. The excess fluid is trapped and puts pressure on the heart, which results in the symptoms.
Several decades may pass before malignant mesothelioma tumors begin to develop and symptoms appear. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms do not manifest until the end stages of the disease, and early detection is very unlikely. Generally, the only opportunity for early detection is another problem that requires careful examination of the heart. Even then, pericardial mesothelioma is unexpected, easy to miss, and difficult to identify.
When a patient is diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, the prognosis is almost always grim. The proximity to the heart, coupled with the average age of malignant mesothelioma patients – over 55 – and the advanced stage of the cancer, severely limits treatments and rules out most opportunities for surgery. By the time symptoms are evident, the average patient has six months or less to live.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common type of malignant mesothelioma, totaling about 5% of malignant mesothelioma cases. The following symptoms are common:
- Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Chest pain
- Heart murmurs
- Dry cough
- Difficulty drawing a breath, even at rest
- Orthopnea (struggling to breathe when lying down)
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Night sweats
How Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms Develop:
Pericardial mesothelioma attacks the protective sac that covers the heart, called the pericardium. The membrane that makes up the pericardium is made up of an inner and outer layer of mesothelial cells. These specialized cells secrete a fluid that acts as a lubricant to prevent friction as the organs move within the body.
The outer layer of the pericardium is the parietal layer, also known as the parietal sac. The inner layer is the visceral layer, also known as the epicardium. The outer parietal layer is part of the membrane that protects the entire chest cavity. The visceral layer surrounds only the heart.
When asbestos fibers lodge in the pericardial tissues, the cells eventually become inflamed. This causes the cells to swell and produce extra fluid. At the same time, malignant mesothelioma tumors begin to grow. Pericardial mesothelioma tumors are diffuse and tend to spread until they cover the entire heart. The excess fluid is trapped and puts pressure on the heart, which results in the symptoms.
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