Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Early symptoms of mesothelioma are difficult to associate with this type of cancer and do not appear for many years after the cancer begins to develop, as many as fifty years. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer associated most commonly with asbestos exposure. Because asbestos fibers in the body take a long time to develop into cancer and produce symptoms, the early symptoms of mesothelioma are often undetected or are confused for other conditions with similar symptoms.

The period of time between the onset of asbestos related symptoms and the actual exposure to asbestos is known as the latency period. Extended latency periods such as those associate with mesothelioma make early detection very difficult. However, by disclosing a history of asbestos related work or known exposure with doctors, patients provide themselves with an advantage over the disease – knowing a possible cause of seemingly non lethal health issues.

There are three primary types of mesothelioma; pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal. Pleural and pericardial types are both located in the chest cavity and exhibit the same early symptoms of mesothelioma, in general. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal cavity and exhibit abdominal symptoms.

What causes early symptoms of mesothelioma?

Oncologists are still studying the causes of mesothelioma. There is a clear connection between exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma. Also, pleural mesothelioma in the lungs is the most common form of mesothelioma and makes up 75% of all cases, so more is known about this type of mesothelioma than any other.

It is speculated that pleural mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers that work their way through the lung and into the outer lining, called the pleura, over a period of many years. Peritoneal mesothelioma, in the abdominal cavity, may be due to ingestion of asbestos fibers that make their way into digestive organs and then migrate out to the lining of the organ over a period of time. Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest, so very little is known about how it develops or beings. Some speculate that asbestos fibers entering the bloodstream after ingestion or direct contact with open wounds makes its way to the heart. However, asbestos exposure over a period of many years is often cited in most mesothelioma cases, so it’s difficult to imagine how it may enter the bloodstream repeatedly and result in mesothelioma.

However, the more common forms (Pericardial and Pleural) cause mesothelioma symptoms because of the effect that cancer cells have on the body. Symptoms of mesothelioma greatly depend on the location of the cancer.

For example, mesothelioma symptoms like coughing and difficulty breathing are due to cancer cells that take up space in the pleura, therefore fluid beings to build up in the space that’s left. Chest pains or pain when breathing can also be caused by restriction in the lungs or restriction of blood vessels around the lungs or heart.

Early Mesothelioma Symptoms

The overwhelming majority of known mesothelioma symptoms occurs in or is related to, the chest cavity.

The early symptoms of mesothelioma in the pleura (lung lining):

•  Dyspnea (breathlessness, shortness of breath); inflammation of the pleura (pleurisy) and pleural effusion (fluid in the lung lining)
•  Difficulty swallowing; often due to swollen neck or esophagus
•  Effusion (fluid buildup in the pleura); inflammation and tumors restrict space and cause fluid to accumulate and increased fluid production
•  Hoarseness; caused by tumors or swelling of the neck and esophagus applying pressure to throat
•  Dry Cough; caused by tumors applying pressure, effusion, or pleurisy.
•  Back Pain; caused by tumors on the rear of the lung, coughing, effusion, and complication of other symptoms.
•  Pleurisy; swelling of the pleura and inflammation caused by infection, effusion, chest congestion, and other lung reactions.
•  Swelling; caused by obstructed blood flow and poor circulation due to tumors and pressure on vessels.
•  Fatigue; caused by anemia, loss of sleep because of night time coughing and pain or discomfort, organ dysfunction such as reduced lung capacity, and emotional trauma including anxiety, stress, and depression about the disease.
•  Fever; caused by infection and low white blood cell count, especially if occurring following chemotherapy.
•  Chest pain; many of the symptoms listed here cause chest pain. As examples: pleuritic pain occurs during deep breathing, aggressive or chronic coughing causes muscle pain, tumors apply pressure to nerves or muscles or chest wall, pneumothorax also known as “collapsed lung” though this isn’t necessarily an early symptom, swelling that blocks blood flow, or cancer that is spreading into bones, joints, and muscle tissue.
•  Weight loss; caused by the body’s inability to process nutrients due to other stresses as well as reduced appetite in association with other symptoms such as pain and cough.
• Lumps and bumps on chest wall; caused by tumors beneath the skin in the parietal lining of the chest wall.

The early symptoms of mesothelioma in the peritoneum (organ linings in the abdominal cavity) are largely due to swelling and effusion in the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum encompasses all of the abdominal organs, including reproductive organs, live, stomach, and intestines.

Many conditions share mesothelioma symptoms as well. Some of the symptoms exhibited by mesothelioma that are shared with other conditions include all of the symptoms listed above. Conditions that share common symptoms must be eliminated to distinguish them from early symptoms of mesothelioma in many cases. It’s important to mention an known history with asbestos to oncologists during screening appointments.