The Maune Raichle Law Firm

Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue which makes up the body’s 3 internal organ cavities as well as provides the fluid which allows for the movement of organs within the body. There are 3 distinct types of mesothelioma and each has its own set of symptoms. The sets of symptoms for each type of mesothelioma are fairly specific to the type of mesothelium's locations. The three major types of mesothelia are the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include difficulty breathing, painful breathing, shortness of breath, pleural effusions, low dissolved oxygen, and coughing. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma closely resemble those of common lung cancers, leading to misdiagnoses for years. Pericardial mesothelioma's most common symptoms are chest pains, coughing, night sweats, and general malaise. Pericardial mesothelioma is quite rare, making up only 5% of all mesothelioma cases. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are a bulge in the abdomen, pain in the abdomen, difficult digestion, night sweats and uncontrolled weight loss.

In its early stages, mesothelioma is often hard to diagnose as its symptoms are nonspecific and resemble those of many other less serious disorders. Diagnosis usually comes after a patient mentions asbestos exposure to a doctor when explaining symptoms. A quick X-ray is usually able to show the tumor on the mesothelium, which is indicative of mesothelioma. More powerful images such as CT scans and MRIs are often used to verify the finding, and subsequently a biopsy is undertaken when necessary to differentiate mesothelioma and lung cancers.