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Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma signs and symptoms may take decades - anywhere from 30 to 50 years following initial asbestos exposure - to appear. While most people with mesothelioma have symptoms for only two to three months prior to diagnosis, about 25% exhibit health problems for at least 6 months before mesothelioma is identified. In some cases, mesothelioma patients may experience no symptoms, or these health problems may be mild enough to be ignored.

The symptoms of mesothelioma are often similar to those of more common, less serious health problems, such as pneumonia. Symptoms are caused by a build-up of tumor tissue, which presses on nerves or surrounding tissues, preventing normal functioning and resulting in pain. Growth of mesothelioma tumor tissue in the lung prevents the lung from expanding fully, leading to shortness of breath. In the abdomen, the growing mesothelioma tumor causes abdominal swelling that may lead to pain, nausea, vomiting and other serious health problems.

Pleural (chest) mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Painful breathing
• Pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest
• Chest pain under the rib cage
• Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on the chest
• Unexplained weight loss
• Dry (unproductive) cough
• Fever
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Coughing up blood
• Muscle weakness
• Sensory loss

Peritoneal (abdominal) mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling
• A change in bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation
• Lumps of tissue in the abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss

Because pericardial mesothelioma and testicular mesothelioma are so rare, their signs and symptoms are unclear. Testicular mesothelioma (also known as mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis) may be first detected as a mass on a testicle, while pericardial mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include difficulty breathing and fever.

In advanced cases, mesothelioma may spread to other parts of the body, resulting in symptoms and health problems such as:

• Pain in the area where cancer has spread
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swelling in the neck and face

As with all cancers, early diagnosis and treatment offer the best prognosis for mesothelioma patients.