Mesothelioma Symptoms and Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost always caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Identifying and diagnosing mesothelioma is often a difficult task. This is because symptoms of mesothelioma often take between 20 to 50 years to manifest following the initial exposure to asbestos.

Additionally, the majority of mesothelioma symptoms can often be confused with symptoms for other, less serious disorders (bronchitis, pneumonia, flu, etc.). Due to these hurdles, it is important to understand how to recognize symptoms so that a proper mesothelioma diagnosis can be made quickly. The earlier that the deadly cancer is caught, the better the chances the patient has for survival.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms can vary significantly from one case to another. This is partly due to the fact that there are three different types of mesothelioma. These include:

• Pleural mesothelioma: mesothelioma that develops in the lung walls
• Peritoneal mesothelioma: mesothelioma that develops in the cell walls of the abdomen
• Pericardial mesothelioma: mesothelioma that develops in the cell walls of the heart

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease. The symptoms most frequently associated with this type of mesothelioma include:

• Dry cough that persists and may get worse over time
• Difficulty swallowing
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pains
• Persistent fatigue
• Recurring shortness of breath
• The formation of lumps under the skin
• Unexplained weight loss

Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for approximately 10 to 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases in the United States. The most prevalent symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

• Persistent pain in the abdomen
• Swelling in the abdomen
• The formation of lumps in the abdomen
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent fatigue
• Night sweats
• Fever
• Anemia
• Unexplained weight loss

Accounting for roughly one to six percent of all mesothelioma cases, pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of the disease. Common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include:

• Irregular heart beat
• Heart palpitations
• Heart murmurs
• Chest pains
• Coughing
• Trouble breathing
• Persistent fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma, excessive cough and trouble breathing are typically the most pronounced symptoms. For the other two types of mesothelioma, trouble breathing and fatigue may bring the individual into the doctor's office. No matter which symptoms warrant the patient to see a doctor, there are several steps in the diagnosis process.

Initially, a review of the patient's complete medical history is performed. This is an important step because the symptoms of mesothelioma are related to a number of less serious illnesses. As such, review of items such as possible previous exposure to asbestos may help point the doctor in the direction of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Following a review of medical history, a comprehensive physical exam is usually performed. This may involve chest x-rays, an MRI and/or CT scan. In all three cases, the goal is to receive imaging of the lungs, heart or abdomen so that possible abnormalities can be located.

If abnormalities are discovered, a biopsy is generally required to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A biopsy is a sample of tissue that is removed and examined under a microscope for the presence of cancerous cells. Biopsies may be obtained in a number of ways. The most common include using a large needle to extract abdominal or pleural fluid, examining phlegm coughed up from the lungs and surgery.