Symptoms and Signs of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a very rare kind of cancer usually remains undiagnosed at early stage. The reason is that at the beginning the symptoms are so slight it goes unnoticed. Moreover in some of the cases there are not a single clinical signs or symptoms of this disease. Hence the scenario becomes more dangerous, it is really essential to take a medical help at your earliest.

The factor of ‘Time’ is of the essence in Mesothelioma-The longer you go without diagnose and intervention, the more you are giving chance to the cancer to develop and also to spread out in other parts of the body.

When we are talking about the Latency period of Mesothelioma, this disease can develop just after the recent exposure of asbestos or it can take many years to develop. So, it is quite uncertain and it varies person –to- person. If you know you have been exposed to asbestos you should do your medical check ups on regular basis so that medical screening can be done. Therefore at early stage doctors can diagnose Mesothelioma then intervention started at soonest before the cancer develops and to you can get cure from this disease.

The very first symptom of mesothelioma can be seen is dyspnea or in other words shortness of breath (SOB). It is usually followed by the comfortless feeling in the chest. Ninety percent of patients have these symptoms. These symptoms are so subtle and vague usually patients don’t go for seeking a medical advice and no prompt diagnose is being done.

The shortness of breath and comfortless feeling in the chest are occurring due to pleural effusion. Pleural effusion is basically is a upsurge of fluid inside the lungs that make it more hard to bring the required oxygen into the body. If you are experiencing these two symptoms, you have to see your doctor immediately.

To get a prompt and accurate diagnose from your doctor don’t overlooked these symptoms or signs like shortness of breath and heaviness inside the chest particularly when you have been exposed by asbestos.

Now these were the early symptoms of Mesothelioma cancer, but what are the warning signs? The unfortunate point in this disease its prominent symptoms shown after 15 – 50 years. It may take decades to develop cancer in the body and symptoms will not show until the cancer is there.

In pleural mesothelioma (affect the lining of lungs) the symptoms are pain in the chest, shortness of breath, painful coughing, weight loss and abnormal lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest.

In peritoneal mesothelioma (affect the lining of abdomen) the symptoms are pain in abdomen, swelling in abdomen, weight loss and abnormal lumps of tissue in the abdomen.

Other than these types the symptoms are usually quite vague. In pericardial mesothelioma (affects the lining of heart) the symptoms are pain in chest and difficulty in breathing.  While in tunica vaginalis (affects the lining of testicles) a lump or swelling can be observed.

If any constant symptoms and signs seem strange to you or troublesome to you then go see the doctor right away. Just don’t ignore these symptoms!