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Mesothelioma Info
Guide
Mesothelioma of Pleura
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
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Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
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Symptoms of Mesothelioma
The onset of mesothelioma symptoms is usually very slow.
Symptoms for Pleural Mesothelioma
(involving the lung / chest area) are:
- chest pain and pain in the lower back
- difficulty breathing
- coughing
- weight loss
- fever
- muscle weakness and sensory loss
- swelling of the face and arms
- hoarseness
- coughing up
blood
Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma (involving the abdominal / stomach cavity, liver, spleen or the bowel) are:
- abdominal bloating due to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
nausea & vomiting
- swelling of the feet
- fever
- impaired bowel function.
Unfortunately, the early mesothelioma symptoms are often ignored or mistaken for
minor ailments because they are not specific to the disease.
Therefore, it is critical to investigate one's exposure to
asbestos. While pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, cough, fever,
sweating, fatigue and weight loss may be common to many minor ailments, it is the knowledge that these mesothelioma symptoms
are present in a person with a high likelihood of asbestos exposure that should raise a red flag.
Mesothelioma symptoms
and signs from mesothelioma depend upon location of the mesothelioma, its size and whether it is benign or malignant.
Benign forms of the disease are generally asymptomatic.
The symptomatology of malignant mesothelioma is due to tumour
growth resulting in invasion of surrounding structures and/or the production of fluid (pleural effusion, ascites, or
pericardial effusion). Chest pain may be caused by invasion of the chest wall. Pleural effusion causes collapse of adjacent
lung and shortness of breath.
Mesothelioma symptoms of distant spread are possible, but uncommon since the tumour is
usually a local problem and blood borne spread is uncommon.
Patients with more advanced disease may be ill generally
with fever, night sweats and weight loss.
Involvement of the membrane around the heart (pericardium) may cause heart
rhythm disturbances.
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