A lot of patients that are diagnosed with mesothelioma find the disease metastasized, usually reaching the later stage of mesothelioma development (stage three and four). As the symptoms of mesothelioma at each stage is different, anyone that may have been exposed to asbestos or asbestos related products, be it short-term or long-term, be aware of what the symptoms are representative of this particular cancer. What follows is brief explanation as to what constitute the symptoms of mesothelioma across its stages.
A lot of patients that are diagnosed in stage one have no symptoms at all and the cancer is accidentally detected by regular X-ray scanning or other tests. In the initial stage, the tumor burden is quite minimal and may not cause any noticeable symptoms. The two most common occurring symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are the shortness of breath and chest pain. These particular symptoms commonly develop as the result of pleural effusion or tumors which press against the lung and chest wall, which may occur in stage one through stage three.
Reaching the stage two, the tumors have already been spread beyond the plural lung lining and right into the diaphragm and lung, which may results in increased pain and may be felt in the shoulder or upper abdomen in addition to the chest. Coughing and difficulty breathing may arise or worse at this stage.
At the third stage, which actually denotes the initial phase of the late stages of mesothelioma, the tumors have spread more extensively throughout the chest, which puts pressure on the lungs and chest wall. These physical changes can result in an increased pain and difficulty in breathing, tightness, dry cough, fatigue, and sudden weight loss.
When the cancer has reached its final stage, which is stage four, the tumors have metastasized throughout the chest and rarely spread to distant areas in the body. The degree of tumor burden in the chest can severely worsen the pulmonary symptoms like shortness of breath. The other pertinent symptoms may include the lumps of tissue under the skin on the chest, pain the lower back, night sweats, and fever. Some patients are reported to experience a hoarse voice and difficulty swallowing. At this particular stage patients oftentimes require health breathing and need continuous oxygen.
How can mesothelioma be diagnosed early?
Basically it is very important that mesothelioma be diagnosed in its early stages for patient to have better prognosis. In order to do so, it is imperious that anyone who may have been exposure to asbestos look out for these signs.
- You or perhaps your family members have been exposed to asbestos? Even if the initial exposure took place fifty years ago.
- One third of all mesothelioma patients diagnosed in the United States are veteran soldiers.
- Look out for the warning signs, such as pneumonia. A lot of times, people are diagnosed with pneumonia and do not get any better
When these particular symptoms present themselves, you have to search for clinician or physician who can be more invasive as well as aggressive to get better diagnosis.
