Symptoms of Mesothelioma

The initial symptoms of a mesothelioma are relatively non specific and can go unnoticed for a long period of time. They can also be wrongly associated to other illnesses or simply viewed as

signs of an unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking, obesity or lack of physical activity. Its non specific nature, mostly accentuated during the initial stages of the disease, justifies the long interval of time that elapses between the onset of the symptoms and its diagnosis. In fact, circa 50% of patients discover the true nature of their illness six months or more after the first symptoms appear. The most common symptom of pleural mesothelioma is pain, localized primarily in the back region or on one side of the chest. Some people can also experience a feeling of heaviness or constriction. Many patients have difficulty breathing, are short of breath or feel they can’t get enough oxygen. The following symptoms are less common and often occur at a later stage: coughing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, blood traces in the cough, swelling of the face and of the upper limbs (edema). In addition, other symptoms, generally associated with most neo-plastic diseases, are fever, weight loss, fatigue and muscle weakness. Peritoneal mesothelioma often causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and a more rapid weigh loss. Abdominal palpation can detect an accumulation of fluid (abdominal dropsy) or the presence of a solid mass.

If a patient with a history of exposure to asbestos experiences these symptoms, physicians must immediately suspect the presence of a mesothelioma and ask the patient to undergo more specific exams.