Early Signs of Mesothelioma You Need to Watch Out for
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer. Yet, it is an aggressive one. Only 9% of people who have diagnosed with this cancer survive more than 5 years. While currently there is no cure for it, early detection
can increase the lifespan of a patient. And with palliative therapy, the quality of life of the patient may be improved.
To help detect mesothelioma in its early stage, below we listed the signs that you need to watch out for. Since there are three types of this cancer, namely pleural, pericardial and peritoneal, we listed the signs according to these types. Now, we will begin with signs for pleural first.
Pleural
The pleural mesothelioma early signs, due to the cancer location, may seem similar to other respiratory-related diseases. This is why diagnosis can be difficult. If, however, you have been exposed to asbestos sometime in your past, you should consult with your doctor if you experience the following signs.
- · Sudden, unexplained weight loss
- · Appetite loss
- · Fatigue
- · Shortness of breath
- · Pain in the chest area
- · Difficulty swallowing
- · Dry and chronic cough
- · Coughing up blood
- · Lump on the chest
Peritoneal
Now, for the peritoneal type. This type of cancer occurs when cancer develops in the abdomen area. Just as pleural cancer, the signs may seem similar to other illnesses. Here are the signs of peritoneal cancer.
- · Sudden, unexplained weight loss
- · Appetite loss
- · Nausea and/or vomiting
- · Anemia
- · Fever
- · Stomachache
- · Night sweats
- · Constipation
- · Diarrhea
- · Ascites
Pericardial
The last type is pericardial mesothelioma. This cancer occurs in the area around the heart. The signs of pericardial may include the following.
- · Sudden, unexplained weight loss
- · Difficulty in breathing
- · Chest pain
- · Fever
- · Generalized weakness
- · Night sweats
- · Constant, acute cough
- · Paradoxical pulse
- · Heart palpitations
People Who Are at Risk
Not everyone is at risk of developing this cancer. It depends on the exposure and the amount of asbestos a person has inhaled. People who have the highest risk are people who work in power plants, steel mills and on construction sites and their immediate family. If you and/or your family members are among people with the highest risk and experience the signs above, seek medical attention as soon as possible just to be safe.
Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis can happen. There are three reasons why. Firstly, as you can see above, many of mesothelioma early signs are similar to other illnesses. As a result, doctors can be confused by it which may result in misdiagnosis. Secondly, this type of cancer is rare. It is uncommon for a doctor to find a patient who has it. Thirdly, the latency period is very long, averaging 15 to 60 years after initial exposure to asbestos.
While misdiagnosis can happen, you should still consult with your doctor if you experience the signs above. Especially, if you have been exposed to asbestos before. After all, early detection can lead to a better prognosis.
These are the early signs of pleural, pericardial and peritoneal mesothelioma. As you can see, the signs can also indicate other illnesses. For this reason, you need to monitor yourself carefully and consult with your doctor in case you experience them. Remember, early detection can increase lifespan and with proper treatment, the quality of life may also be improved as well.