Signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma
Since there are similarities between lung cancer and Mesothelioma cancer, it can sometimes be misdiagnosed. If someone has smoked most of their adult lives, and then develops cancer, it is usually thought to be caused by smoking. People need to look back at their work histories to see if they were exposed to asbestos fibers and dust. The connection is important for a doctor to make the right diagnosis.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma in the lung and chest include:
Cough, weight loss, shortness of breath and chest pains. Mesothelioma occurs in the abdominal cavity as well and these symptoms are usually swelling and pain in your abdomen.
It is difficult to diagnose Mesothelioma because its symptoms are similar to other illnesses. Pneumonia and anemia can include the hoarseness, fatigue and chest pain, breathing difficulties, too.
Mesothelioma occurs when the cancer cells invade the Mesothelium, the membrane that surrounds the heart and lungs and allows movement of these organs to work properly. Coughing up blood is the harshest of symptoms. If the patient has numerous tumor growths, the lung may collapse.
In later stages of the disease, the abdominal swelling, pain, and extra fluid retention can cause problems with the bowels. Once the Mesothelioma cancer enters the blood stream, it attacks all working organs.
Swelling of the face and arms, muscle weakness, back pain and pain in the rib cage are apparent in the Pleural type of Mesothelioma. Building up of fluid in the lining of the lung, coughing up blood and sensory loss, including paralysis can occur.
In one of the further stages of Mesothelioma, the peritoneal type, (that is the abdominal cavities) can cause nausea, vomiting, hernias, bowel obstruction and sever stomach pain. Once fluid is in the abdominal cavity, this area will swell. Peritoneal Mesothelioma can occur in the reproductive organs of both sexes. In the male internal organist is called Tunia Vaginalis Testis. In the female, it is Tunica Serosa Uteri.
Of course as with all types of cancer, fatigue, or chronic fatigue may be present, because of the undo strain and stress on the normal functioning of the life sustaining organs of your body.
Symptoms can be severe, and it is imperative to quickly catch the Mesothelioma in its earliest stages. Once it has progressed cure is unlikely, and focus would be more on keeping the patient as comfortable as possible.
Visit mesothelioma.net for more information on what you should do if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma.