Mesothelioma Symptoms and Signs

It is a serious disease that attacks the mesothelium part. There are many reason that makes mesothelioma dangerous, one of them is mesothelioma symptoms or signs will not appear until 20 to 50 years (or more) after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are also similar with other diseases that less serious.

The mesothelioma common symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath, 
• Cough, 
• and pain in the chest 

These symptoms often occur due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (pleural effusion). Because early mesothelioma symptoms tend to be general, they often go ignored or else confused for symptoms of less serious ailments. Generally, however, individuals begin to manifest mesothelioma symptoms two to three months prior to being diagnosed .

These are symptoms that may be caused by mesothelioma or by other diseases that less serious:

• Chest wall pain
• Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue or anemia
• Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
• Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Mesothelioma tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage, include:

• Abdominal pain
• Ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
• A mass in the abdomen
• Problems with bowel function
• Weight loss

In severe cases of mesothelioma, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

• Blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Low blood sugar level
• Pleural effusion
• Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
• Severe ascites

However, the mesothelioma symptoms differ from its type. A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

Main article: Malignant Mesothelioma