Unfortunately the mesothelioma symptom typically does not appear for 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Typically the first symptoms mirror other more minor diseases such as influenza and pneumonia. When the symptoms become more pronounced, motivating the person to seek medical care the cancer is fairly advanced making treatment less effective.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to too much asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. Unfortunately, what occurs is that once inside the body these fibers inflict the lining around the organs, (called the mesothelium), and tumors begin to grow, which will eventually spread to other parts of the body.
Early detection is the number one most important factor for both treatment and survival.
Mesothelioma Symptom
1. Pleural Effusion
This is when too much fluid builds up in the lung lining. Because of this buildup a person may experience dyspenea (difficulty breathing) or chest pain.
2. Dry Cough
Interestingly enough many suffers of mesothelioma will sufferer from a dry cough, meaning there is no phlegm associated with it. This should sound a major alarm that something is not right.
3. Horner’s Syndrome
Horner’s syndrome – nerve paralysis, is a collection of abnormal symptoms such as the sinking in of an eyeball, droopy eyelids, abnormal pupil constriction, and anhidrosis, (which is a lack of sweating).
4. Coughing Up Blood
Obviously the coughing up of blood is going to be the most alarming in this list of mesothelioma symptom. Hoarseness or difficulty swallowing could also accompany this.
5. Lumps
A lump around the skin of a person’s chest or abdomen is another sign. And although you may not be able to see these lumps, you should be able to feel them when you go to take a bath or a shower.
6. Problems with Bowel Habits
Abnormal bowel habits are also a sign of peritoneal mesothelioma which can cause you to have more bouts of constipation or diarrhea.
7. Weight Loss
You may not think weight loss is a symptom of meslothelioma, but if weight loss is unexplained and a person has any of the other symptoms listed here, they should go to a doctor.
8. Aches and Pains throughout the Body
Once mesothelioma metastasizes into various areas of the body, the person can experience complications from those organs as well. The most common complication is pain in that particular area.
9. Abdominal Swelling
If you have peritoneal mesothelioma, which is mesothelioma of the lining of the stomach, you could have severe abdominal swelling to the degree that you think you’ve gained weight. Actually the swelling is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
10. No Symptoms
About 3 percent of all sufferers of Mesothelioma don’t ever experience the “typical” mesothelioma symptom. If you fall into the at risk group i.e. are older and have been exposed to asbestos take the precaution of consulting your physical and getting checked to see if you have the condition just to be safe.
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