The early signs of mesothelioma are often
similar to pneumonia with symptoms including chest pain,
coughing, shortness of breath and a build up of fluid (shown
by a chest x-ray). The most commonly affected lung is the
right, approximately 60% of the time, while symptoms in
both lungs are rare at 5% of the time. Mesothelioma symptoms
are not limited to the above and can also include weight
loss, fever nauseu and abdomen swelling (for those affected
by peritoneal Mesothelioma).
One thing to consider is that early symptoms
of mesothelioma can be mis-diagnosed. Part of the reason
is that many of the symptoms are similar to pneumonia, including
shortness of breath, persistent cough and chest pain.
Mesothelioma develops at a slow rate, making
it difficult for people to know when they have it. The first
symptoms of mesothelioma are often shortness of breath,
chest pain, fever, cough, nausea, pain in abdomen, or anemia.
All of these symptoms are also caused by less serious illnesses,
which makes it difficult to recognize the disease in its
early stages. If you have worked with or been exposed to
asbestos you should get screened, even if you do not feel
sick.
Mesothelioma is more treatable when diagnosed early.
Common Malignant Mesothelioma
Symptoms
Patients often experience symptoms for 4-6
months before the diagnosis is made.
The most common symptoms are the following:
Recent onset of shortness of breath (31%)
Recent increase in shortness of breath (30%)
Chest pain (43%)
Other symptoms include the following:
Cough (35%)
Weight loss (23%)
Weakness (18%)
Increased sputum production (18%)
The most common findings on physical examination (79%) are
signs of pleural effusion (eg, dullness to percussion or decreased
breath sounds).
Patients with peritoneal involvement experience
symptoms as follows:
Abdominal pain (60%)
Anorexia (27%)
Weakness (12%)
Nausea (11%)
The most common signs of peritoneal
mesothelioma include the following:
Abdominal distention (56%)
Ascites (37%)
Weight loss (38%)
Abdominal mass (11%)
Frequency of Mesothelioma
In the US: Annual incidence of mesothelioma
is 7-13 per 1,000,000 male patients with a history of asbestos
exposure. Approximately 1 in 1,000,000 North American patients
with no asbestos exposure present with mesothelioma per year.
The incidence of mesothelioma is lower in women than in men,
probably because fewer women than men worked outside the home
in the mid-20th century; therefore, they were exposed less
to asbestos.
The incidence of mesothelioma is highest in
the Pacific and mid-Atlantic states and may be related to
the location of industries such as shipyards.
Internationally: The incidence of mesothelioma
in women is 2/1,000,000/year and in men is 10-30/1,000,000/year
in industrialized countries where asbestos was used widely.
The incidence of mesothelioma varies greatly among nations
and is difficult to document in countries without mesothelioma
registries. In France, an estimated 950 new patients are
seen per year. In the United Kingdom (where a mesothelioma
registry exists), incidence is expected to peak in the year
2020 at 2700 deaths per year and is expected to decline
rapidly thereafter.
Mortality / Morbidity of Malignant Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma usually is fatal. Death
usually occurs within 18 months of first onset of symptoms.
Mesothelioma usually presents 30-40 years after asbestos exposure.
Source: (Cancer 1986 Oct 1; 58(7): 1540-51)
Symptoms for Pleural Mesothelioma (involving
the lung / chest area) are:
- chest pain and pain in the lower back
- difficulty breathing
- coughing
- weight loss
- fever
- muscle weakness and sensory loss
- swelling of the face and arms
- hoarseness
- coughing up blood
Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
(involving the abdominal / stomach cavity, liver, spleen or
the bowel) are:
- abdominal bloating due to fluid accumulation in the abdominal
cavity
- nausea & vomiting
- swelling of the feet
- fever
- impaired bowel function.
Pericardial Mesothelioma symptoms
- The most infrequent form of this rare asbestos-linked
cancer, individuals with pericardial mesothelioma have cancerous
growths in tissues surrounding the heart. The early symptoms
indicating pericardial mesothelioma include:
- chest pain
- dyspnea
- cough
- palpitations
Dyspnea is defined as abnormal or uncomfortable
breathing in the context of what is normal for a person according
to his or her level of fitness and exertional threshold for
breathlessness.
Unfortunately, the early mesothelioma symptoms
are often ignored or mistaken for minor ailments because they
are not specific to the disease.
Therefore, it is critical to investigate one's exposure to
asbestos. While pain in the lower back or at the side of the
chest, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, cough, fever,
sweating, fatigue and weight loss may be common to many minor
ailments, it is the knowledge that these mesothelioma symptoms
are present in a person with a high likelihood of asbestos
exposure that should raise a red flag.
