Mesothelioma symptoms are common and may indicate other diseases and ailments. Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer caused by extended exposure to asbestos. It impacts either the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma), the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma). People who have breathed in asbestos fibers as part of their job are most at risk. Treatment is needed to extend mesothelioma life expectancy of patients.
Asbestos is a natural, fibrous mineral resistant to heat, fire, and electricity. Until the late 1960s, asbestos was widely used in the automotive, building, fireproofing, roofing, and shipbuilding industry. Commercial and residential adhesives, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, paint, and plastic contained asbestos. Today, asbestos is no longer in use.
Mesothelioma can also develop gradually, up to fifty years after asbestos exposure, making it easy for a patient or physician to miss the possibility of having it. For example, coughing and shortness of breath, symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, may be mistaken for an allergy, a cold, or pneumonia. Many times the asbestos cancer has advanced through the body before mesothelioma symptoms even appear, thus reducing mesothelioma life expectancy of patients.
There are three types of mesothelioma, sharing some common and some different symptoms. Common mesothelioma symptoms of the three types of mesothelioma include fatigue, fever, and unexplained weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms that are more specific may include:
Peritoneal Mesothelioma - this affects the abdominal lining. A cancerous tumor grows in the abdominal lining or abdominal cavity. General peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal lumps, abdominal pain, anemia, appetite loss, blood clots, chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, fever, fluid retention in the abdominal cavity, constipation, hernia, nausea, obstructions of the bowel, stomach pain, swelling, vomiting, and weight loss.
Pericardial Mesothelioma - this affects the lining around the heart. A cancerous tumor grows in the protective lining of the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms can be easily overlooked as similar to a number of illnesses. They include chest pain, coughing, fluid retention, shortness of breath, and rapid and unusual heartbeat.
Pleural Mesothelioma - this is the most common form of the disease. A cancerous tumor grows in the protective lung lining. Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include appetite loss, back pain, coughing up blood, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, coughing, fever, fluid in the lung lining, hoarseness, loss of senses, lung failure, paralysis, rib pain, shortness of breath, swelling, weakness, and weight loss.
As you can see, mesothelioma symptoms are vast and common, making diagnosis difficult without testing. If you or a loved one experiences any of the above mesothelioma symptoms, consult your physician and inquire about tests for mesothelioma, especially if you have a history of exposure to asbestos. This may be critical to extending mesothelioma life expectancy of the patients.
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