Mesothelioma Symptoms

The following are some common symptoms of those individuals who may have developed mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma may not develop (and hence symptoms may not appear) until 25 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Problems breathing or shortness of breath
Individuals may have problems with breathing or a general feeling of not getting enough air. Typically, it involves a feeling of discomfort or difficult breathing.

Pain in the chest
Symptoms associated with chest pain involve pressure and discomfort in the chest region. This discomfort may feel like the chest area is tight or heavy. Shortness of breath and chest pains may be due to fluid in the pleura.

Loss of weight
Individuals with Mesothelioma have experienced a decrease in weight that may be caused by lower caloric intake or an increased metabolism.

Coughing
Symptoms include a persistant cough that may be accompanied by difficulty in swallowing. Coughing up blood may also occur in some cases as well as throat problems that may be exhibited as hoarseness or a raspy voice.

Other symptoms
Other symptoms may include anemia, fever, bowel obstruction and blood clotting problems.


What should I do?
You should consult a physician if you exhibit these symptoms. Many of these symptoms may be indicative of other conditions besides mesothelioma, but tests and screenings are required to determine this.

What kind of tests are performed to screen for mesothelioma?

Chest X-rays are performed to view the chest area (including the lungs and heart). Chest radiography can help screen for the presence of tumors and also show any accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity.

A lung biopsy is a procedure that removes a small piece of tissue from the lung. This is done by a surgical incision through the chest. This tissue is then sent to a laboratory to test for cancer and/or infection.

CT scans of the thoracic area allow physicians to view possible abnormalities in the chest region. CT stands for computed tomography.

Additional tests of fluids from the chest region (for example, the pleural fluid) can help test for the presence of mesothelioma.
 

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