Mesothelioma Symptoms

The symptoms associated with mesothelioma depend significantly on how advanced the disease is. In the early stages of mesothelioma, the condition lacks any visible symptoms and is often hard to detect. In its later stages, symptoms often begin to develop and are frequently caused by the pressure that tumors placed on nerves.

Some of the symptoms associated with Pleural Mesothelioma (which affects the lungs) include the following:

• Chronic fatigue or easily fatigued by exertion
• Continual cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fever or sweating
• Forgetfulness or memory loss
• Husky voice
• Lower back or chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss of 10% or more

Some of the symptoms associated with Peritoneal Mesothelioma (which affects a person’s abdomen) include the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Constipation and diarrhea
• Feeling sick
• Loss of appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Swollen abdomen

Medical providers can fortunately provide chemotherapy “cocktails” to a person with peritoneal mesothelioma to slow down the staging and spread of the cancer. This treatment frequently includes pemetrexed, cisplatin, carboplatin, and gemcitabine.

Some of the symptoms associated with Pericardial Mesothelioma (which affects a person’s heart) include:

• Arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat
• Dyspnea or difficulty breathing even at rest
• Heart murmur or unusual sound heard during the heartbeat
• Fatigue and chest pain
• Night sweats and fever

Some of these symptoms can be an indication of other symptoms including asbestosis or lung cancer. Sometimes, these symptoms are indicators of another completely unrelated condition. If you do experience any of these symptoms and have had exposure to asbestos, it is critical to speak with an experienced medical provider immediately.

The rarest type of mesothelioma, testicular mesothelioma, is reported to represent less than 1% of all mesothelioma cases. Some of the symptoms associated with this condition include the following:

• Hydrocele, or fluid in the scrotum
• Lumps in the scrotum
• Swollen testicles
• Testicular pain

The symptoms of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos exposure-related conditions take a long time to emerge and are often barely noticeable at first. Sometimes, people mistake these symptoms for conditions other than mesothelioma. Until the later stages of mesothelioma, the condition often does not make a substantial impact on a person’s life or interfere with daily living. As the tumors grow and spread throughout a person’s body, however, the symptoms worsen. Many people find that the later stages of mesothelioma are particularly painful, which is why it is often a wise idea for patients to be in contact with an experienced mesothelioma doctor as early on in the process as possible.

In some situations, the side effects from chemotherapy taken to combat or delay mesothelioma can be confused with the symptoms of mesothelioma. While the symptoms of cancer treatment often fade once chemotherapy has ended, the symptoms of mesothelioma often increase in intensity. The assistance of a palliative care provider during this time can be helpful. A palliative care doctor focuses on managing symptoms as well as improving the quality of a person’s life. There are fortunately several options available to treat the pain and discomfort associated with the condition.

Speak with our law office today by calling 888-506-1131 or schedule an appointment with us online if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Our legal team is committed to making sure that mesothelioma victims obtain the best outcome possible.