Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is caused by inhalation or ingestion of microscopic asbestos fibers. This cancer is most commonly found in factory workers who were exposed to asbestos while on the job like shipbuilding, plumbing, electrical fittings, or construction workers and mechanics. Mesothelioma is tough to detect because mesothelioma symptoms take as long as 20-30 years to appear after the exposure to asbestos has taken place. Another factor that makes it tough to diagnose mesothelioma is that the outward symptoms of most common type of mesothelioma are similar to the symptoms of other types of cancer too. Therefore, a detailed analysis by an expert doctor is needed to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. Once the type of mesothelioma is diagnosed then the doctor can recommend the treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy depending on the stage of mesothelioma and the physical condition of the patient.
There are three common types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma that can afflict patients and the symptoms of these are as following:
· Pleural mesothelioma symptoms: This type of cancer affects the lungs most of all and can have various symptoms like pain in chest or abdomen, accumulation of fluid in lungs, weight loss, tiredness, difficulty in swallowing, persistent cough. All these problems start from the patient’s inability to breathe properly as the lungs can not expand and contract properly because of the cancer tumors in the mesothelium membrane around the lungs.
· Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms: Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen and its symptoms are characterized by swelling in the abdomen, weight loss and abdominal pain, bowel obstructions, vomiting, fever and anemia. As the stomach can not function properly because of cancer cells in its lining, these symptoms become severe if not treated at the earliest.
· Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms: When the cancer causing tumors take place in the heart then the condition is known as pericardial mesothelioma. As the movement of the heart is constricted in the chest because of the cancer cells in its lining, following symptoms might appear, such as chest pain, heart palpitations, coughing, shortness of breath and getting tired easily after minimum exertion.
When these symptoms are coupled with the pervious history of a patient who has been exposed to asbestos as far as 50 years back, the possibility of mesothelioma can not be ruled out. A doctor’s work in diagnosis of mesothelioma can become much easier if he knows of patient’s exposure to asbestos. You can find out more about mesothelioma, mesothelioma symptoms and mesothelioma treatment options at www.mesotheliomadoctorsgroup.com.