Mesothelmeoma Symptoms & Diagnosis
Mesothelmeoma can be a devastating disease, affecting not only those workers who have been exposed to asbestos, but also their families as well. One of the biggest problems with mesothelmeoma is that it has what is known as a long latency period – often lasting from between 10 and 50 years and meaning that symptoms are not always obvious and diagnosed at once. Because of this, many experts predict that there will be a major outbreak of mesothelmeoma in the coming decades.
The early symptoms of mesothelmeoma can often be mistaken for something else, or even overlooked completely, making it more difficult to accurately diagnose. In general, most people who have been exposed to asbestos and have mesothelmeoma begin to exhibit some of the symptoms a few weeks before being diagnosed. A person may experience some or all of the symptoms – making it even more difficult to diagnose. There are also several different types of mesothelmeoma.
Pleural mesothelmeoma is a tumor that affects the lining surrounding the lungs and can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The most common symptoms of pleural mesothelmeoma are fairly similar to those of viral pneumonia and generally include a persistent and often dry cough which doesn’t usually bring anything up, pain in and around the chest and a constant shortness of breath.
Other symptoms of pleural mesothelmeoma can include coughing up blood, pain in the back or around the rib cage, swelling around the face and arms, an unexplained loss of weight and unusual lumps of tissue appearing under the skin on the chest. In some cases, it is possible to experience such extreme symptoms of pleural mesothelmeoma as sensory loss and paralysis.
It’s possible to diagnose pleural mesothelmeoma in several different ways – the cancer can be X-rayed to determine its size and location; a PET scan may also be performed, in which a tiny amount of radioactive glucose is injected into a vein. Cancerous cells often consume more glucose, thus helping to determine the scope of the cancer. The lungs may be examined in a procedure known as a bronchoscopy; tissue and any fluid found in the lungs may also be removed for examination.
Peritoneal mesothelmeoma, also known as cancer of the peritoneum, is a cancer that affects the abdominal lining. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and weight loss and it is also common to experience a mass in the abdomen or fluid in the abdominal cavity. Other symptoms can include abnormal blood clotting, anemia, bowel obstruction; and swelling around the neck or face if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Peritoneal mesothelmeoma is usually diagnosed by a procedure known as a peritoneoscopy, in which an instrument is inserted into the abdominal cavity to monitor any excess fluid.
Pericardial mesothelmeoma is cancer of the sac that contains the heart, known as the pericardium. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, caused by fluid accumulating between the heart and the walls of the sac. With this type of mesothelmeoma, a procedure known as a thoracoscopy is usually performed, which measures any build up of fluid; it may also be necessary to surgically remove any tumor by opening up the chest cavity.
Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may recommend a particular treatment for your mesothelmeoma. The two most common treatment options are chemotherapy and surgery, although there are other options such as radiation and even several so-called alternative treatments. It is particularly important to be diagnosed as accurately and thoroughly as possible, to ensure that you are receiving the best possible treatment option for your situation.
If you or a loved one has any of these symptoms, always seek medical help as soon as possible – don’t assume that these symptoms are indicative of something else. Although mesothelmeoma is relatively rare, thousands of construction workers and others are still at risk of developing some or all of the symptoms. And an attorney can also advise you whether you are able to pursue a mesothelmeoma lawsuit to recoup some of the high costs of medical treatment and to compensate for your suffering.
