Asbestos has already been pointed out as one of the main catalysts for mesothelioma.
A patient with the particular disease often reveals symptoms of mesothelioma after 15 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not come early for the doctor to give a final diagnosis. Also, symptoms of mesothelioma may also be similar to other diseases making it a difficult case to diagnose. Oftentimes, doctors give misdiagnosis to patients due to the wide range of diseases that show the same symptoms.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may be very deceiving. It is still uncertain whether a person has the particular disease. Oftentimes, doctors could only give a diagnosis of mesothelioma as soon as the disease has already developed.
Nonetheless, if people are already exposed to asbestos, then they should be regularly having chest X-rays. People should bear in mind that mesothelioma cancer is a very difficult disease to treat so people should know that they have one as early as possible so as to make more efficient treatment methods.
There are three common types of mesothelioma: Pleural, Peritoneal, and Pericardial.
One of the common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma is pleural effusion. This pleural effusion is the fluid buildup between the chest wall and the heart. It also has two types namely transudates and exudates. Transudates are the clear fluid buildup due to an imbalance between normal productions of fluid and removal. Exudates on the other hand, are diseases in the pleura. Symptoms of mesothelioma also include coughing, fever, shortness of breath, sudden weight loss, face swelling, severe breathing difficulties, rasping voice, coughing out blood, back pains, and night sweats.
Peritoneal mesothelioma involves the buildup of fluids in the peritoneal membrane or the lining of the abdomen. There is also an inflammation in the peritoneal membrane causing the buildup of fluid in the lining of the abdomen. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include night sweats, fevers, unexplained weight loss, swelling or pain in the abdomen, anemia, fatigue, diarrhea and constipation, nausea or vomiting, and the appearance of lumps under the skin of the abdomen.
Pericardial mesothelioma involves the inflammation of the pericardial membrane or the lining around the heart. It eventually develops to mesothelioma over the course of time. Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include, discomfort, pressure or pain in the chest, shortness of breath, persistent coughs with little phlegm or no phlegm at all, heart palpitations fatigue, and a general feeling of being unwell.
