Mesothelioma symptoms are common and indicative of other diseases and ailments. Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It affects either the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma), the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma). People who have breathed in asbestos fibers as part of their job are most at risk. Dallas has many people suffering from this.
Asbestos is a natural, fibrous mineral resistant to heat, fire, and electricity. Until the late 1970s, asbestos was widely used in the automotive, building, fireproofing, roofing, and shipbuilding industries. Commercial and residential adhesives, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, paint, and plastic contained asbestos. Today, asbestos is not in use.
Mesothelioma can also develop gradually, up to fifty years after asbestos exposure, making it easy for a patient or physician to overlook the possibility of having it. For example, coughing and shortness of breath, symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, may be mistaken as an allergy, a cold, or pneumonia. Many times the cancer has advanced through the body before mesothelioma symptoms even appear.
There are three types of mesothelioma, sharing some common and some different symptoms. Generalized mesothelioma symptoms of the three types of mesothelioma include fatigue, fever, and unexplained weight loss. Mesothelioma symptoms that are more specific include:
Peritoneal Mesothelioma - affects the abdominal lining. A cancerous tumor develops in the abdominal lining or abdominal cavity. Common peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal lumps, abdominal pain, anemia, appetite loss, blood clots, chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, fever, fluid retention in the abdominal cavity, constipation, hernia, nausea, obstructions of the bowel, stomach pain, swelling, vomiting, and/or weight loss.
Pericardial Mesothelioma - affects the lining around the heart. A cancerous tumor develops in the protective lining of the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms can be mistaken for a number of illnesses. They include chest pain, coughing, fluid retention, shortness of breath, and/or rapid and unusual heartbeat.
Pleural Mesothelioma - is the most common form of the disease. A cancerous tumor develops in the protective lung lining. Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include appetite loss, back pain, coughing up blood, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, coughing, fever, fluid in the lung lining, hoarseness, loss of senses, lung failure, paralysis, rib pain, shortness of breath, swelling, weakness, and/or weight loss.
As you can see, mesothelioma symptoms are vast and common, making diagnosis difficult without testing. If you or a loved one experiences any of the above mesothelioma symptoms, consult your physician and inquire about tests for mesothelioma, especially if you have a history of exposure to asbestos.
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