Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma patients often present no symptoms for a long period, due to the long period between exposure to asbestos fibers and development of the disease. When symptoms do present, they often mimic those of less serious respiratory illnesses, causing a patient to delay seeking treatment. Patients suffering from mesothelioma (also known as malignant mesothelioma or mesothelioma cancer), often report chest pains, shortness of breath, persistent cough, and a general malaise. Less common symptoms include swelling of the extremities, night sweats, and rapid weight loss.
By far, the most prevalent symptom of mesothelioma cancer is a build-up of fluid in the lungs called a pleural effusion. A healthy individual has fluid between his or her lungs and chest cavity which provides needed lubrication; any excess fluid is absorbed into the bloodstream. In a mesothelioma patient, the malignancy tends to cause this fluid to build up rather than be absorbed normally. Typically, the fluid that builds up contains blood; if the patient is suffering a persistent cough, he or she may cough up blood as well.
A patient with malignant mesothelioma may also have difficulty swallowing and feel unusually fatigued. He or she may feel a persistent pain under the ribs (in addition to chest pains). Rarely, a mesothelioma cancer patient may experience an ongoing fever and/or develop growths under the skin on the chest.
Due to the long latency period of malignant mesothelioma, the best hope is catching the illness early. If it is diagnosed in Stage 1 or Stage 2, there is a relatively good likelihood that the disease can be survived through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
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