What Mesothelioma Symptoms Should You Expect?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can affect various parts or organs of the human body. Depending of the particular case of the patient, the symptoms will prove to vary. Furthermore, depending on where the cancer is located, the symptoms will manifest in different ways.

Because mesothelioma has the possibility of metastasizing or spreading to other organs in the body, the overall progression of the disease will also have an impact on the types of symptoms experienced. If you need legal advice and assistance, contact mesothelioma lawyers.

Common Mesothelioma Symptoms

The unfortunate truth about mesothelioma is that most symptoms will not be present until decades after the initial exposure to asbestos, the cancer’s main and most well-known cause. Therefore, the lack of symptoms will allow the mesothelioma disease to progress unchecked and untreated.
The issue is further complicated by the fact that mesothelioma symptoms will also resemble or mimic those of less serious illnesses or health conditions, such as the flu and pneumonia. Some of the most common mesothelioma symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pains. However, the symptoms themselves will also vary depending on the type of mesothelioma present.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

This is the most common type of mesothelioma cancer, which affects the pleura, which is the protective lining encircling the lungs.
Many of the symptoms associated with pleural mesothelioma are caused due to the buildup of fluid as a result of the production of cancer cells. This leads to the thickening of the tissue, which impedes regular pulmonary and respiratory functions. Among the various pleural mesothelioma symptoms, some of the most commonly reported are:
1. Dry and persistent cough (one that does not produce phlegm)
2. The coughing up of blood, also known as hemoptysis
3. Weight loss that is greater than 10% of the person’s total weight
4. Fatigue
5. Persistent chest pains
6. Shortness of breath
7. Fever

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

Quite possibly the second most common type of mesothelioma cancer, this form affects the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity. Some of the related peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms are:
1. Fatigue
2. Nausea
3. Vomiting
4. Diarrhea and/or constipation
5. Unexplained weight loss
6. Anemia
7. Fever
8. Persistent pain in the abdominal area

Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms

This form of mesothelioma cancer is more rare, occurring in less than 5% of all patients with mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the protective sac surrounding the heart, which is known as the pericardium.
Due to its rare occurrence, the diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma is harder to determine. This also leads to having less succinct or clear symptoms in regards to this type of cancer. However, some of the symptoms present may include:
1. Chest pains
2. Difficulty breathing, during physical activity and while resting
3. Fever
4. Fatigue
5. Irregular heartbeat
6. Heart palpitations

Testicular Mesothelioma Symptoms

Testicular mesothelioma is the most rare form, with less than 100 cases being reported in the past 60 years. Due to the lack of reported cases, the symptoms for this particular kind of mesothelioma are not well known or established. However, the most common symptom reported is the appearance of lumps in the testicles, which may or may not be painful.

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