Mesothelioma symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms are not specific to the disease; that is, many mesothelioma symptoms are also symptoms of other medical problems. Most studies show that the symptoms of mesothelioma usually begin to appear 30 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos. Thus, many mesothelioma patients are unaware that the symptoms they are experiencing are related to something that happened much earlier in their lives. This allows the disease to further progress, which is one reason most patients’ mesothelioma prognosis is very grim. Even a short period of asbestos exposure (as little as a few months) can create the conditions for a disease that erupts much later in life.

Mesothelioma affects the lining of various cavities in the body. Over time, the growth of cancerous tumors causes these tissues to expand and gather fluid. The presence of excess fluid is typically what causes the symptoms to occur. Mesothelioma symptoms also depend on the location of the tumors.

Common signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma include:

• * A cough that does not go away
• * Chest pain, often aggravated by deep breathing
• * Hoarseness
• * Weight loss and loss of appetite
• * Bloody or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
• * Shortness of breath
• * Fever without a known reason
• * Recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
• * New onset of wheezing