Mesothelima Symptoms

Mesothelioma has got a status as a cancer which is very complicated to take care of effectively. This status is partly because in the early stages, the symptoms are not specific to the illness; that is, many mesothelioma symptoms resemble to symptoms of other medical problems. Most researches explain that the symptoms of mesothelioma normally start to appear 30 to 40 years after asbestos exposure. Wikipedia states that symptoms of mesothelioma may not come out until 20 to 50 years after the exposure. Thus, lots of mesothelioma patients usually are not aware that the symptoms they feel are in relation with something that took place many years earlier in their lives. Still, just a short period of exposure to asbestos (as little as a few months) is able to create the conditions for a disease that explodes many years later in life.

Mesothelioma Symptoms are not specific
It is noted in the previous section of this article that the early symptoms of mesothelioma are frequently similar to the symptoms of other medical problems which are much less severe. For instance, early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (that grows in the lining surrounding the lungs) usually are similar to the symptoms of pneumonia or influenza. Likewise, symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma (that grows in the lining surrounding the heart) are like symptoms of other cardiac status.

If you possess a record of exposure to asbestos and undergo any of the symptoms that will be explained below, it is best for you to look for medical advice immediately. Moreover, in the importance of early detection, people who experienced asbestos exposure but have not revealed the symptoms should get regular chest x-rays or pulmonary function examinations to observe any undesirable affects of inhaling asbestos.

Before going to the deep explanation about the symptoms, it should be noted that mesothelioma influences the lining of various body cavities. As time goes by, the development of cancerous tumors triggers these tissues to enlarge and gather fluid. The occurrence of redundant fluid is normally what causes the symptoms to take place. Thus, mesothelioma symptoms are also dependent on where the tumors are located.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
The most frequent form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. Roughly, 60 percent of mesothelioma cases begin in the lining that surrounds the lungs.
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms and signs may include:

Short breathing (dyspnea) which takes place even when the sufferer is at rest
Painful breathing (pleurisy) or constant pain in the rib or chest area
Continual dry or harsh cough (non-productive usually, meaningthat there is little or no phlegm)
Painful coughing and coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
Chest pain under the rib cage
Swallowing difficulty (dysphagia)
Fever or night sweats
Unexplained weight loss, usually 10 percent or more
Fatigue
The appearance of unusual lumps on the chest or under the skin

For pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms happen because the the pleural membrane thickens and the excessive fluid between two membrane layers, which is called the pleural space. The thickening of the tissue and fluid increase give pressure on the lungs, leading to decreased respiratory function.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are also very common for a number of other medical problems, including pneumonia. The most frequent symptom is localized chest pain. However, this may not happen until the disease is well advanced. A less frequent but still common symptom of this type of mesothelioma is weight loss. Some patients show almost no symptoms.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
About 25 to 30 percent of mesothelioma cases are originating in the lining that surrounds abdominal cavity, which is called the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms are generated by the peritoneal membrane thickening and the resulting increase of fluid between two membrane layers. These alterations in membrane structure give pressure on the abdominal organs and abdomen, which leads to the types of symptoms as described below:

Abdominal pain
Swelling or a mass in the abdomen
Fever or night sweats
Unexplained weight loss
Anemia
Fatigue
A change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation
Vomiting or nausea
The appearance of lumps of tissue under the skin on the abdomen

Bowel obstruction and blood clots also have been known to occur and fever is sometimes present.

Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Not more than 5 percent of mesothelioma cases begin in the membranous lining surrounding the heart, which is called the pericardium. Once the pericardium layers thicken because of the development of cancerous cells, excessive fluid generates between the two membrane layers, which is followed by impaired cardiac function and the symptoms below:

Chest pain
Irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations
Irregular breathing patterns
Difficulty breathing, even when resting (dyspnea)
Fever or night sweats
Generalized fatigue

Many of these symptoms reveal during physical exertion, even minimal exertion.

Pericardial mesothelioma is very uncommon that the identified symptoms are not as clear as with more common types of mesothelioma. Particularly, it is a type of mesothelioma which is difficult to diagnose, and it associates to a bad prognosis amongst pericardial mesothelioma sufferers.

Testicular Mesothelioma Symptoms
Testicular mesothelioma is an enormously rare type of cancer. The statistic data shows that less than 100 cases of testicular mesothelioma have been noted in the last 60 years. With so few cases recorded, very little information about the symptoms of this type of cancer is known. Nevertheless, by diagnosing this early, it can be relatively easy to treat in many cases. The only recognized symptom of this form of mesothelioma is the development of testicular lumps, and these may or may not be painful.
It is essential to inform that testicular mesothelioma may appear unexpectedly in the testicle or may be a secondary tumor. In the latter case, the primary cancer is typically peritoneal.

When to see a doctor
You need to see your doctor if you experience symptom and signs that may indicate mesothelioma. Symptoms and signs of mesothelioma are not precise to this disease and, because of the rarity of mesothelioma, are more likely to be associated to other medical problems. If any continual signs and symptoms seem bizarre or bothersome to you, ask your doctor to examine and evaluate them.