Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Signs to Look for After a History of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a toxic substance that can cause serious health issues after frequent exposure. One of the most common asbestos-related diseases is malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that grows in the lining of internal organs that have been exposed to asbestos fibers. The lungs, chest wall, and abdominal cavity are the organs most often affected by inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers, but malignant mesothelioma can develop elsewhere in the body in rare cases.

No matter which organ your cancer cells are located in, you might notice some general symptoms of mesothelioma, such as weight loss, fever, and fatigue. However, other symptoms of malignant mesothelioma can vary depending on the cancer location and stage.

Consider some of the most common mesothelioma symptoms based on the location of the cancer cells. Then call your doctor to get a mesothelioma diagnosis and discuss your treatment options.

If you find that the best treatment available is out of your price range, contact our team Frost Law Firm to find out if we can help you bring a legal claim against the company responsible for your asbestos exposure.

Pleural Mesothelioma

The majority of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. With this type of malignant mesothelioma, cancer cells grow on the lining of the lungs and chest wall, typically as a result of inhaling asbestos fibers for years. For this reason, most malignant pleural mesothelioma symptoms involve the respiratory system, with some signs and symptoms also affecting the entire body.

What Are the Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma?

The most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Pleural effusion
Persistent cough
Difficulty breathing
Swelling in the face and arms
Difficulty swallowing
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Fever
Lower back pain
Unexplained weight loss

If you have a history of asbestos exposure and notice these pleural mesothelioma symptoms, you should contact your doctor for a mesothelioma diagnosis. While malignant pleural mesothelioma can take several years for signs and symptoms to appear, you might have a better prognosis if you get diagnosed in the early stages, before the cancer cells spread to your liver, heart, bones, and more.

When you see a doctor after noticing early-stage mesothelioma symptoms, you can start radiation therapy and other mesothelioma treatments as soon as possible. This is why it’s helpful to pay close attention to potential symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma after asbestos exposure.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma accounts for the majority of malignant mesothelioma cases because the lungs are the most affected organ when asbestos fibers are inhaled. However, another way for asbestos exposure to occur is by swallowing the tiny fibers in the air, which causes cancer cells to grow on the lining of the abdominal cavity. This lining is also known as the peritoneum, so this type of malignant mesothelioma is called peritoneal mesothelioma.

What Are the Main Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms?

The most common peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Swelling of the abdomen
Constipation
Feeling of fullness
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
Fever

Of course, these signs and symptoms could indicate other medical issues, not just peritoneal mesothelioma. This is especially the case for early symptoms, before the cancer cells spread to different areas of the body.

Whether these common malignant mesothelioma symptoms are indicative of cancer of the peritoneum or another condition, you should see a doctor if you notice new or worsening symptoms like these. An early diagnosis can allow you to use radiation therapy or other treatment options to get relief from mesothelioma symptoms. Additionally, once you get the mesothelioma diagnosed, you can talk to a lawyer about pursuing compensation from the party that caused your asbestos exposure.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

While most mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with peritoneal or pleural mesothelioma, a tiny percentage are afflicted by a form of this condition that develops on other organs. Pericardial mesothelioma is one example. With this type of mesothelioma, cancer cells grow on the pericardium, the lining around the heart.

What Are Common Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms?

Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms often include:

Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Heart murmur
Difficulty swallowing
Irregular heartbeat
Difficulty breathing
Fluid buildup in the pericardium
Shoulder pain
Cough
Fever
Fatigue
Swelling in the legs

Much like peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma, the signs and symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are common in other conditions. This leads many patients to assume they’re suffering from health issues other than malignant mesothelioma. Additionally, this type of mesothelioma is extremely rare, even more so than peritoneal or pleural mesothelioma.

Late Stages of Mesothelioma

As a result, it’s often not diagnosed until late-stage mesothelioma symptoms are present, at which point common palliative treatments to relieve pain and increase comfort may be the only option. This is why you should talk to your doctor if you notice any mesothelioma symptoms after you’ve been exposed to asbestos.

Testicular Mesothelioma

Another type of asbestos-related illness that’s much more rare than pleural mesothelioma is testicular mesothelioma. This occurs when cancer grows along the lining of the testicle, also referred to as the tunica vaginalis. There are very few cases of this type of malignant mesothelioma, so even mesothelioma specialists are uncertain about some details of this disease.
However, what they do know is that it’s caused by exposure to asbestos. In addition, the life expectancy is longer than it is for pleural mesothelioma.

What Are the Most Common Testicular Mesothelioma Symptoms?

Testicular mesothelioma signs and symptoms include:

Swelling of the scrotum
Testicular pain
Testicular lumps
Inguinal mass
Fluid buildup in the scrotum

Early signs of this type of mesothelioma often mimic a groin injury, so it’s common for patients to avoid pursuing a diagnosis. During disease progression, patients might notice a mass in the testicles that looks and feels like an inguinal hernia. This is why this type of mesothelioma is often not diagnosed early on.

Common Forms of Asbestos Diseases

In fact, even the more common forms of asbestos diseases, such as pleural mesothelioma, are usually diagnosed years after the cancer has spread to multiple organs. At that point, palliative care to manage symptoms is often the only option. Of course, mesothelioma can’t be cured even when caught early, but certain treatments can prolong life expectancy during the earliest cancer stage.

That’s why it’s essential to pay attention to these mesothelioma signs after being exposed to asbestos. If you’ve been suffering from chest pain, pleural effusion, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, sudden weight loss, and more, you should schedule a physical exam with your doctor and explain your concerns. They can take a tissue sample to determine if pleural mesothelioma or similar conditions are the cause of your symptoms.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

If you have malignant pleural mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses, you deserve to get the treatment you need without worrying about the costs. If financial concerns have stopped you from getting treatment to kill cancer cells or palliative care to reduce symptoms, contact the Frost Law Firm. We can review your case and tell you if you should pursue compensation from the at-fault party so you can afford medical care.