Mesothelioma Symptoms

A patient with mesothelioma often demonstrates symptoms 15 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. The cancer may take decades to develop in the body and symptoms do not arise until after the cancer is present. Many patients are unaware of the severity of their condition since mesothelioma symptoms typically resemble symptoms of less serious illnesses.

If you have a history of asbestos exposure, the leading cause of mesothelioma, it is best to seek immediate medical advice. Informing your doctor of previous asbestos exposure can alert them to the possibility of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma.

Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Unfortunately, there are practically no early symptoms of mesothelioma, which is why the disease is commonly diagnosed at a late stage of development. In the interest of early detection, those who were exposed to asbestos but have not yet exhibited symptoms should undergo regular chest X-rays or pulmonary function tests to monitor any adverse affects of asbestos inhalation.

When a doctor informs a patient of a mesothelioma diagnosis, patients and their loved ones are often very confused since the cancer is relatively unknown. Asbestos.com provides a complimentary packet with comprehensive information about mesothelioma symptoms and next-step guidance following a diagnosis.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the cancer, comprising approximately two-thirds of all mesothelioma cases.

Known symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

* Persistent dry or raspy cough (typically non-productive, meaning there is little or no phlegm)
* Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
* Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia)
* Night sweats or fever
* Unexplained weight loss of 10 percent or more
* Fatigue
* Persistent pain in the chest or rib area, or painful breathing
* Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that occurs even when at rest
* The appearance of lumps under the skin on the chest

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma occur as a result of thickening of the pleural membrane, caused by the rapid production of cancerous cells which can lead to the buildup of fluid between membrane layers. Tissue thickening and fluid buildup place pressure on the lungs, leading to reduced respiratory function.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for approximately 25 to 30 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses and symptoms may include:

* Night sweats or fever
* Unexplained weight loss
* Swelling or pain in the abdomen
* Anemia
* Fatigue
* Diarrhea or constipation (in general, any change in bowel habits or regularity)
* Nausea or vomiting
* The appearance of lumps under the skin on the abdomen

Symptoms are caused by the thickening of the peritoneal membrane and the resulting build-up of fluid between membrane layers. These changes in membrane composition put pressure on the abdominal region and organs, causing a patient to demonstrate symptoms of the cancer.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms

Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for less than 5 percent of all mesothelioma. Symptoms are caused by thickening of the pericardial membrane and fluid buildup. Known symptoms include:

* Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
* Chest pain
* Difficulty breathing, even when resting (dyspnea)
* Fever or night sweats
* Generalized fatigue

Pericardial mesothelioma is so rare that the recognized body of symptoms is not as well-developed as with more common types of mesothelioma. It is a particularly difficult type of mesothelioma to diagnose, and this correlates to a poor prognosis among pericardial mesothelioma patients.
Testicular Mesothelioma Symptoms

Testicular mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of cancer, as less than 100 cases of testicular mesothelioma have been recorded in the last 60 years. With so few cases recorded, very little is known about the symptoms of this disease. The only known symptom of testicular mesothelioma is the appearance of testicular lumps, and the lumps may or may not be painful.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma patients are typically diagnosed within three to six months of their first visit to a doctor with complaints about breathing problems or chest and abdominal pain. The first step involved in a diagnosis of mesothelioma is providing a full and accurate medical history to your doctor, including details about current and past health concerns, as well as the types of symptoms you are currently experiencing.

It is important to mention any possible exposure to asbestos. Without revealing this fact, your doctor may not consider asbestos-related diseases in his or her examination. Next, patients will undergo a physical examination where a doctor will examine causes for any types of symptoms being displayed. In most cases, the doctor's next step will be to recommend further testing.

Mesothelioma Diagnostic Tests

If your doctor suspects an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, the next step in the diagnostic process includes testing to confirm the presence of mesothelioma, determine the location, size and type of cancer involved, and determine whether the asbestos cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This will often involve imaging tests such as:

* Chest X-ray: This is the most commonly used imaging test for the diagnosis of mesothelioma. Almost all diagnoses will involve an X-ray, but a more sophisticated test may follow.
* CT Scan: This is an X-ray-like procedure in which several X-ray pictures are taken and combined with a computer to produce a detailed image of body tissues. If you undergo a CT scan, you may be given an intravenous injection of dye that helps produce more detailed images.
* PET Scan: A glucose solution is administered through intravenous injection and a scanner is used to spot deposits of cancer cells. Malignant cells take up and use sugars more quickly than normal cells, so they can be easily distinguished using this procedure.
* MRI Scan: A combination of radio waves and a strong magnetic field is used to create detailed three-dimensional images that can be carefully examined by a radiologist.

Fluid and Tissue Tests

These tests, also known as biopsy tests, involve collecting small samples of fluid or tissue and checking them for the presence of cancer cells. Such tests include:

* Fine Needle Aspiration: Mesothelioma cancers cause fluid to build up in affected locations, such as in the pleural membrane. During a fine needle aspiration, a doctor will remove a fluid sample using a very long, thin and hollow needle.
* Thoracoscopy: Thoracoscopy is used in cases where pleural or pericardial mesothelioma is suspected. During this procedure, a very small incision is made in the chest wall and a sample of tissue is removed.
* Bronchoscopy and Laparoscopy: These procedures are similar to the thoracoscopy, but are performed on different parts of the body. The bronchoscopy is used to view the trachea and airway, while the laparoscopy is used to remove samples of peritoneal tissue.
* Mediastinoscopy: This procedure is used to view lymph nodes in the chest and neck, to determine if cancer has spread from its point of origin.

Hope for victims of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is as grave a situation as any imaginable, for diagnosis usually precedes a long and painful death. New technology for treating mesothelioma provides the most hope for the victims of this condition, but due to the skyrocketing cost of medical care in America, most of these advanced treatments are out of reach for all but the wealthiest of people. Nevertheless, treatments like angiogenesis, gene therapy, and photodynamic therapy provide the most hope for victims of mesothelioma who have failed to respond to conventional treatments.

Mesothelioma diagnosis is not the end

Hope is crucial for victims of mesothelioma because hope gives strength, and fighting an affliction as insidious and pervasive as mesothelioma requires an incredible amount of strength. Many people draw strength from their families, or in their spiritual convictions, and others take stock of a life of accomplishments and resolve themselves to persevere in their struggle. As long as those unfortunate victims still have hope, then their struggle against mesothelioma is never in vain.

New hope for victims of mesothelioma comes from treatment derived from the most unlikely places.

• Celebrex, a COX-2 inhibitor has been shown to halt the growth of mesothelioma cells in a Petri dish in a recent study conducted by Dr. Alfonso Catalano at the University of Marche in Italy. Lab animals also showed significant improvement, as the survival rate of with mice with mesothelioma improved from 45 days to 62 days, and in a few cases over 120 days. It is now believed that human tests are in the immediate future, as malignant mesothelioma remains one of the deadliest and hardest to treat cancers.

Never give up your most precious asset: hope

Even the best medical treatments are worthless if the patient does not commit to surviving through the pain and adversity of the procedures. It is true that mesothelioma treatment can involve unpleasant surgery, radiation, and chemotherapies, but when hope is lost, everything is. The belief that mesothelioma, like an obstacle, can be surmounted and conquered is sometimes more effective than the latest medical breakthrough, and such fortitude in the face of adversity often inspires those around you, even if they are not afflicted with such a condition.

Why Do Some Mesothelioma Patients Survive Longer?

There have been a number of patients that have survived far beyond the usual one year survival period and a handful that have even been cured, with no trace of the aggressive cancer several years after treatment (though recurrence is always possible). This has stumped many medical professionals as they experience difficulty in explaining why some mesothelioma patients survive and others do not.

Research seems to show one common thread – the immune system. Studies of those who have either survived or been cured of the disease reveal that most of these patients participated in some sort of therapy that enhanced their immune system. Some treatments included clinical trials in immunology while others involved alternative therapies dealing with the immune system.

A report released more than 20 years ago theorized that "the presence of asbestos fibers in exposed workers may have caused the eventual breakdown of the host's surveillance system and the onset of neoplasm [malignant mesothelioma]."

With this philosophy in mind, some researchers believe treatments that improve the immune system can stabilize and even cure the disease. Currently, this is the most prevalent theory in explaining why some patients continue to live a healthy life while mesothelioma is in remission and why others have apparently defeated the disease.

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