Common Mesothelioma Symptoms

There are many symptoms of asbestos exposure. When asbestos fibers enter the lungs, they can become stuck in the lungs, leading to very serious health conditions like mesothelioma. Several different types of mesothelioma exist, including pleural mesothelioma, a type of cancer found in the chest, peritoneal mesothelioma, an abdominal cancer and pericardial mesothelioma, a form of cancer affecting the cells lining the heart.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. About 75% ofthose individuals diagnosed, have pleural mesothelioma. It is caused by breathing in asbestos fibers that ultimately reach the ends of the small air passages in the lungs, resulting in swelling and scarring of the pleura. The pleura is the layer of tissue that covers the chest cavity and also aids in the protection of organs.

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Most of the time, pleural mesothelioma tumors appear in one lung. This is caused when cells in the lungs grow too fast and abnormally. Eventually, pleural mesothelioma tumors can encase the pleura before spreading into the abdomen or wall of the chest.

When the cancer starts to spread and grow larger, the chest can fill up with fluid and pressure is placed on important organs in the body. This condition often results in pain in the lower back and chest and shortness of breath, coughing and various other symptoms.

About 10 to 20 percent of people are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. This form of cancer causes tumors to appear in the abdomen. This happens when asbestos fibers are coughed up and then swallowed, causing damage to the peritoneum, the layer of tissue that protects organs by covering the abdomen.

Peritoneal mesothelioma causes scarring and swelling as the cancer cells grow and spread throughout the body. It can go beyond the peritoneal wall and cause damage to organs like the heart, intestines, esophagus or blood vessels. It can also attack the heart, liver, lungs or stomach. When the cancer spreads, it can also cause the abdomen to fill with fluid, placing pressure on organs. Among the symptoms of this disease are weight loss, stomach pain and digestive problems.

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium, the cells that line the heart. It is extremely rare and affects males twice as often as females. It typically occurs in people that are between the ages of 40 and 70. Some of the symptoms that are reported are chest pain, chronic coughing, difficulty breathing and irregular heartbeat.

Mesothelioma is often diagnosed 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. For many, the first stages offer no clue they have the disease because they experience few symptoms or signs. Treatment decisions are based on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease and the patient's age and general health.