Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma can occur as much as 30 to 40 years after asbestos exposure or exposure to other other fibrous materials. Only a short period of exposure can set the stage for a disease that erupts much later in life.
Mesothelioma affects the lining of various body cavities. Over time, growth of the cancerous tumors causes tissue to expand and gather fluid. The presence of excess fluid is usually what causes the symptoms to occur. The disease symptoms will also depend on the location of the tumors.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough. But these symptoms are also quite common for other ailments, including pneumonia. The most common symptom is localized chest pain, but it may not occur until the disease is well advanced. Weight loss and coughing are not uncommon. However, some patients show virtually no symptoms.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
This cancer of the abdomen lining exhibits symptoms such as swelling or a mass in the abdomen, weight loss and/or abdominal pain. Also, bowel obstruction and blood clots can occur, and fever is sometimes present.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
The heart's lining - the pericardium - is affected by pericardial mesothelioma, causing fluid to gather. Symptoms can include chest pain, cough, irregular heartbeat and irregular breathing. Many of these symptoms manifest themselves when patients exert themselves, even minimally.
With any cancer, the earlier the disease can be detected, the better the prognosis for a treatment that halts the progression.
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