Mesothelioma is a rare kind of cancer that develops from transformed cells that originated from the mesothelium, the protective layer that covers many internal organs of the body. This type of cancer is said to grow at a much faster pace than other types of cancer; it can also attack a victim in different parts of the body where mesothelium can be found. Among others, these anatomical sites include the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart), and tunica vaginalis (a sac that surrounds the testis). However, mesothelioma symptoms can appear twenty to fifty years after the exposure to asbestos (the mineral that causes the disease), and often times, when a diagnosis has been made, it is too late to reverse of prevent the spread of the diseases.
Because mesothelioma can grow in different anatomical sites in the human body, its symptoms can vary depending where the cancer has grown.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the lining of the abdominal cavity. Symptoms of this type of mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia (also known as wasting syndrome and characterized by loss of weight, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite in someone who is not actively trying to lose weight), abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. Trouble in swallowing or swelling of the neck or face may also be manifested if the disease has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body.
Pleural Mesothelioma
This type of mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and internal chest walls. Its symptoms can include chest wall pain, pleural effusion (the buildup of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity), shortness of breath, fatigue or anemia, wheezing or cough, and hemoptysis (coughing of blood or blood-stained sputum). If a person has developed tumor in their pleura, he or she can experience pneumothorax or collapse of the lung.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Since this type of mesothelioma affects the lining around the heart, it can exhibit symptoms that resemble those of any heart conditions. Symptoms may include heart palpitations or arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), chest pain, murmurs, cough, dyspnea (breathing difficulty, even when at rest), orthopnea (breathing difficulty, which occurs when lying down), fatigue, fever or night sweats.
Testicular Mesothelioma
This is the least recorded type of mesothelioma, and its symptoms can only include presence of lumps on the testes and/or swelling of the scrotum.
Severe Cases of Mesothelioma
In severe cases of mesiothelioma, especially when a tumor has already formed,the following symptoms may be observed: blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis; disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs; jaundice or yellowing of the eyes and skin, low blood sugar level, pleural effusion; pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs; and severe ascites.
Since some of the symptoms of mesothelioma resemble those of some minor ans less serious diseases, it is always wise to consult your doctor once you experience any of these signs—especially if you think that you have been exposed to asbestos.
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