The signs as well as symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on a number of factors, the main one of which is where the cancer occurs. Hereunder are the lists of symptoms of various types of mesothelioma, which occur due to where the fiber first attacks in the body.
Pleural Mesothelioma
This type of mesothelioma usually impact the tissue which surrounds the lungs, triggers signs and symptoms which may comprise of:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain under the rib cage
- Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest
- Unexplained weight loss
- Painful coughing
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
This particular type of mesothelioma occurs in the tissue in the abdomen, triggers signs and symptoms which may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Lumps of tissue in the abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
Other Kinds of Mesothelioma
The symptoms and signs of other types of mesothelioma are rather unclear, since these forms of the ailment are so rare. Pericardial mesothelioma, which tends to affect tissues which surround the heart, can generate signs and symptoms such as chest pain and breathing difficulty. Mesothelioma of tunicavaginalis, which tends to attack tissue which surrounds the testicles. It may be first diagnosed as swelling or mass on the testicle.
When to see a doctor
You need to see your doctor or GP if you have the signs or symptoms which may indicate mesothelioma. The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma are not specific to this disease and, because of the rarity of mesothelioma, are more likely to be linked to some other conditions. In case any persistent signs and symptoms seem rather unusual or bothersome, you need to ask your doctor to evaluate them. You can then tell your doctor if you have been exposed to the asbestos.
The Treatments for Mesothelioma
The best treatment to deal with mesothelioma is dependent on a number of factors, which includes how far the cancer has spread and your overall health conditions. As mesothelioma is oftentimes diagnosed at the advanced stage, the treatment is commonly focused on controlling the symptoms and even prolonging life of a patient as long as possible. This is known as supportive or palliative care.Possible Treatments for Mesothelioma include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.
You will also probably have treatment for your symptoms so as to help you feel as comfortable as possible for instance, regularly draining fluid from the chest may help breathing and strong painkillers might be helpful to relieve the pain.Sometimes, a procedure is done to stop the fluid coming back again by causing the outside of the lung get stick to the inside of your chest, or tube is put in the chest to drain the fluid at home regularly.
Your GP should discuss the treatments with you. Unluckily, the outlook for mesothelioma is rather poor. This is due to the fact that it does not usually case any glaring symptoms until late on and it can progress quite rapidly once it reaches this particular stage. Overall, around half of people diagnosed with mesothelioma will live at least one year after the diagnosis.
