The early
signs of mesothelioma are often similar to pneumonia with symptoms including
chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and a build up of fluid (shown
by a chest x-ray). The most commonly affected lung is the right, approximately
60% of the time, whilst symptoms in both lungs are rare at 5% of the time.
Mesothelioma symptoms are not limited to the above and can also include
weight loss, fever nauseu and abdomen swelling (for those affected by peritoneal
Mesothelioma).
One thing
to consider is that early symptoms of mesothelioma can be mis-diagnosed.
Part of this reason is that many of the symptoms are similar to pneumonia,
including shortness of breath, persistent cough and chest pain.
Mesothelioma
almost always originates from long-term exposure to asbestos. Asbestos
was used in many industries like:
- building
and construction industry for strengthening cement and plastics as well
as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption.
- The shipbuilding
industry to insulate boilers, steampipes, and hot water pipes.
- The automotive
industry for vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads.
Since the
early 1940s, millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos dust,
including many of the 4.5 million people who worked in shipyards during
World War II. Illness from asbestos dust has been recognized in workers
exposed in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing
of asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building
trades, brake repair, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers,
drywall removers, and firefighters also may be exposed to asbestos dust.
Pleural
Mesothelioma symptoms - sometimes resembling viral pneumonia, pleural
mesothelioma patients may be plagued with:
- shortness
of breath
- chest pain
- a persistent
cough.
On the other
hand, some patients show no symptoms at all. The onset of pleural mesothelioma
is usually very slow, the most common presenting symptom is persistent
pain localized in the chest. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by severe
difficulty breathing, because fluid has gathered in the pleural space.
This is known as pleural effusion. Cough, weight loss and fever are not
uncommon as well.
Peritoneal
Mesothelioma symptoms - can include:
- swelling
- pain due
to accumulation of fluid in the abdomen cavity
- weight loss
- mass in
the abdomen
Other symptoms
of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting
abnormalities, anemia (a lowered red blood cell count), and fever.
Pericardial
Mesothelioma symptoms - The most infrequent form of this rare asbestos-linked
cancer, individuals with pericardial mesothelioma have cancerous growths
in tissues surrounding the heart. The early symptoms indicating pericardial
mesothelioma include:
- chest pain
- dyspnea
- cough
- palpitations
Dyspnea is
defined as abnormal or uncomfortable breathing in the context of what is
normal for a person according to his or her level of fitness and exertional
threshold for breathlessness.
These are
some of the symptoms of mesothelioma. Symptoms are one thing...but what
if it becomes malignant? It's time to
Turn now
to Chapter 2 - Malignant Mesothelioma.
Next >
Chapter 2 - Malignant Mesothelioma
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