Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms of mesothelioma can vary according to location of the disease within the body or type classification (peritoneal mesothelioma or pleural mesothelioma), and the progression of the disease. In many cases, patients do not exhibit any symptoms that are exclusively indicative of mesothelioma early on. Most will not present mesothelioma signs or symptoms until two to five decades after they have been exposed to asbestos. Although the period in any case is often lengthy, the latency period for symptoms of peritoneal cancer, or peritoneal mesothelioma is said to be somewhat shorter than that for malignant pleural mesothelioma in some cases.

When symptoms are present, they may include shortness of breath, persistent cough, chronic pain, chest pain, bowel habit changes, fluid in the lung (pleural effusion) or abdominal cavity, and a range of other issues. The symptoms may range from mild to severe depending on the stage of the disease. Most asbestos disease symptoms are also similar to a range of other health conditions, which can make it difficult to definitively diagnose diseases like mesothelioma, especially if a physician is not provided with sufficient background information for patients who may have worked in occupations where asbestos was commonly used.

Diagnosing mesothelioma may require a series of tests to confirm the presence of the disease. Because of the long period of time between asbestos exposure and the emergence of symptoms in most cases, a majority of people are not diagnosed until they are in the advanced stages of the disease.

If one has worked as a contractor, miner, asbestos manufacturer, or in other occupations within the industrial field, prior to asbestos regulations of the 1970’s, and they exhibit symptoms of any asbestos related disease, it is important to seek proper immediate medical attention for their condition. An early diagnosis may help improve one’s prognosis, and make patients eligible for a broader range of treatment options.