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What Are The Symptoms Of Mesothelioma?
By Rob Mellor, Thu Dec 8th
Mesothelioma is generally associated with a long latency periodthis means that the symptoms of this disease can take many yearsto manifest, making both diagnosis and effective treatment verydifficult. And even when the symptoms do become evident, whichcan take several decades, the symptoms are so generalized andnon-specific that they could be put down to any number of morecommon diseases. This makes it hard for even experienced doctorsto make a quick and conclusive diagnosis with Mesotheliomapatients. The symptoms of this disease can often be confusedwith pneumonia during its early stages. Some Common Symptoms Some of the most common symptoms ofMesothelioma of all three types are shortness of breath andchest pains. This may be accompanied by a persistent cough, andthese entire symptoms stem from the build up of fluid betweenthe lining of the lung and the chest cavity, known as pleuraleffusion. Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma In pleural effusion, anaccumulation of fluid happens between the parietal pleura (thepleura covering the chest wall and diaphragm) and the visceralpleura (the pleura covering the lungs). Both of these membranesare covered with mesothelial cells which, under normalconditions, produce a small amount of fluid that acts as alubricant between the chest wall and the lung. Any excess fluidis absorbed by blood and lymph vessels maintaining a balance.When too much fluid forms, the result is an effusion. (Article continued below)
This type of the disease starts in the chest cavity and can thenspread to other parts of the body. Pleural Mesotheliomasufferers may also begin to display severe breathing difficulty,weight loss and fever as well as trouble
swallowing and evenswelling of the face and neck. Some patients may also develop arasping voice and start coughing up blood. However, there areother patients that may not show any significant symptoms atall. Symptoms of Mesothelioma The symptoms for patientswho suffer from Mesothelioma (a rarer form of thedisease) are slightly different. This type of the disease startsin the abdomen and can spread form there. Patients of peritonealMesothelioma can display abdominal pain and swelling, nausea,loss of appetite and vomiting. They can also suffer breathingproblems, and chest pain in addition to these symptoms. Thesesymptoms result from tumors that lean against the abdominalwall. Bowel obstruction, anemia, fever and problems with bloodclotting may also affect Mesothelioma patients. Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma The rarest form of thisdisease is pericardial Mesothelioma, which starts in the cavitysurrounding the heart. With pericardial Mesothelioma, the tumorsgrow in the tissues that surround the heart and can spread fromthere. Pericardial Mesothelioma sufferers may experience chestpain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations. Don't Loose Hope Most people who have worked with asbestos inthe past do not begin to show symptoms of Mesothelioma untilthirty to forty years later. By this time, the disease isalready spreading and with the delay in diagnosis, makes itimpossible to treat in many cases before it is too late.However, the cause, effects and symptoms of Mesothelioma are nowbecoming more widely known by professionals and lay people. Thisawareness, coupled with the current clinical trials that arebeing carried out by a variety of organizations gives patientsthe hope that an effective treatment will one day be availablefor all stages of the disease. About the author:Rob Mellor owns the free to usewww.mesotheliomasupportonline.com website helping people findout more about mesothelioma. Please visit the site formore information on mesothelioma symptoms | 