Mesothelioma
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can be very aggressive one it truly takes hold. However, its initial symptoms are generally quite vague and often mimic other conditions, such as pneumonia or gastronomical disorders. Some patients will show no symptoms at all. This can lead to an unfortunate delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma most often exhibit signs of dyspnea (shortness of breath), pleural effusions (fluid in the space that surrounds the lungs) and chest pain. The majority of pleural effusion symptoms will exhibit in the right lungs, nearly 60% of the time.
Other general symptoms of mesothelioma of the lung can include shortness of breath, vague chest pain that may radiate to the shoulders or upper abdomen, loss of appetite and weight, fatigue, hoarseness, and general weakness. Symptoms of mesothelioma in the abdominal cavity can include nausea, vomiting, bowel and urinary obstruction, swelling of the legs and feet, and fever. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (in the chest cavity lining) may include pain in the lower back or side of the chest or shortness of breath. Some individuals experience cough, fever, sweating, fatigue, and weight loss.