Mesothelioma Symptoms
Depending on the type of mesothelioma, slightly different symptoms can occur. Peritoneal disease has an effect on the intestines, liver and other structures in the abdominal cavity. As fluid builds up, the abdomen can become very expanded. Because the liver plays a big part in manufacturing the substances needed to control bleeding, there is often a change in your ability to make blood clots. Weight loss occurs for several reasons, and is more dramatic in this form of the disease. The pleural form of mesothelioma can also cause damage to the upper airway. Swallowing can become difficult, and voice changes can occur if the larynx is affected.
Pleural mesothelioma inhibits the ability of the lungs to expand and contract. This can make it difficult to breathe normally. Shortness of breath is a mesothelioma clinical symptom often first experienced when taking steps, or performing light physical activity. Physical tasks that were once performed easily now can cause significant shortness of breath, also known as "dyspnea".
Mesothelioma symptoms for peritoneal mesothelioma may include:
Abdominal Pain
Peritoneal mesothelioma usually invades the abdominal cavity and causes pain associated with nerves and affected abdominal organs.
Cramping or Diarrhea
The cancer in the peritoneum may affect abdominal organs thereby impairing the ability to have normal bowel movements. The cancer may also cause bowel obstruction.
Inability to Eat
A clinical symptom of mesothelioma reported by many people with peritoneal mesothelioma is the inability to eat. Eating may be painful because of the location of the cancer, and there may also be a severe loss of appetite.
It can be difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because many of the mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions, including lung cancer and other types of cancers. At the time of diagnosis, your doctor will first do a physical examination and complete a medical history, including asking about the possibility of prior exposure to asbestos.
Although there is no early detection test for mesothelioma, there are several tests that can be used to help in making the diagnosis of mesothelioma, including a chest x-ray, a CT scan, or an MRI scan. A chest x-ray yields an image of the lungs that will show many types of abnormal changes. A CT scan (computed tomography) is a type of x-ray, but it uses a computer rather than film to create detailed images.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include pain or swelling in the abdomen due to a build-up of fluid, nausea, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia, or swelling of the feet.
Malignant mesothelioma is also known as “asbestos cancer” because approximately 75% of all mesothelioma patients have a known exposure to asbestos. Because tumors of the mesothelium are rarely benign or non-cancerous, malignant or cancerous mesothelioma is usually referred to by the shorter name of "mesothelioma". Also, once malignant mesothelioma takes hold it can be a very aggressive disease and so early diagnosis and treatment of is critical
