Mesothelioma Symptoms: An Overview

Malignant mesotheliomas are rare tumors that form in the tissues along the lung (pleura), abdomen (peritoneum) or heart (pericardium). Pleural Mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs is the most common, which is about 75 percent of all malignant mesothelioma. Between ten and twenty per cent of all malignant mesotheliomas are peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial mesotheliomas are extremely rare. A history of asbestos exposure is found in mostPeople with mesothelioma. The time from exposure to onset of cancer may be the time of thirty years, which is why most people with malignant mesothelioma is between 50 and 70.

Many symptoms of malignant mesothelioma are not specific and are seen in a number of other thoracic and abdominal conditions. This is combined with the lack of a clear history of asbestos exposure in some patients, can significantly delay the diagnosis. Most peopleonly the symptoms of mesothelioma in the two or three months before being diagnosed. Approximately one quarter of all people with symptoms of malignant mesothelioma for about six months before diagnosis.

Once the symptoms are present, may depend on the location of primary tumor. In general, the symptoms are more pronounced with advanced disease. With pleural mesothelioma are common symptoms, breathing difficulties, cough, chest pain, or underthe chest, coughing up blood, hoarseness, and the accumulation of fluid or pleural effusion in the pleural cavity. The face and hands swell. Many of these symptoms are seen with lung cancer.

With peritoneal mesothelioma, the symptoms are a lump or swelling in the abdomen, abdominal pain, fluid in the abdomen, constipation due to intestinal obstruction, nausea, vomiting and anorexia. Patients with pericardial mesothelioma mayChest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations. Some symptoms of malignant mesothelioma are common to many types of cancer. These include unexplained weight loss, fever and fatigue.