Mesothelioma info

Symptoms

Early symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific in nature, and may lead to a delay in diagnosis. In general, shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough are common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, but in some cases, may not be severe enough to force the patient to seek medical help. Some patients complain of pain in the shoulder blade or lower back. These symptoms most often occur 2-3 months prior to a confirmed diagnosis. In peritoneal mesothelioma, abdominal pain and swelling, nausea or vomiting, bowel obstruction and weight loss are the most common symptoms. Importantly, these symptoms are not unique to mesothelioma, and may be symptoms of other conditions as well. Evaluation by a qualified physician is always suggested.

As mesothelioma progresses, pleural effusion (fluid build up between the two pleural layers) occurs in 95% of patients, and it is this symptom which ultimately leads to patients visiting their GP. During this visit, a chest x-ray is taken which may confirm the effusion. A thickening of the pleura may also be noted at this time. If the GP suspects cancer is a possibility, referral may be made to a hospital consultant who specializes in lung cancer and mesothelioma.

When your GP recommends a referral, you should be given the following information:

• Where you are being referred.

• When the appointment will be scheduled.

• Who you will see.

• What testing you can expect.

• When the results of the testing will be available.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has developed the following general referral guidelines for suspected cancer, effective June, 2005. These guidelines may not apply to every individual, and you should always discuss the details of your specific case with your health care team, so you can play a proactive role in your treatment and care.

An assessment of urgency will be made by your GP, and will be based on the following criteria:

• Immediate referral: The patient needs to be seen within a few hours.

• Urgent referral: The patient will be seen within two weeks.

• Non-urgent: All other referrals.

Once urgency is determined, your GP will send all information pertaining to your case to your specialist for evaluation.

Depending on the type of mesothelioma diagnosed - pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal - symptoms might vary from the above, which pertain mostly to pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of the disease.

Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma might include:

• Abdominal pain, acute to severe

• Swelling of the abdominal region due to fluid accumulation

• Breathing difficulties

• Loss of appetite resulting in weight loss

• Bowel obstruction

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Weakness

• Fever

• Anemia

Common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma might include:

• Chest pain, ranging from uncomfortable to severe

• Shortness of breath

• Heart palpitations

• Persistent coughing

• Extreme fatigue after minimal activity or exertion

Because the three types of the disease are similar but centered in different parts of the body, the patient is likely to have symptoms that overlap. For example, nearly all meso patients suffer from shortness of breath and fatigue, but the pain may be more apparent in the abdominal/stomach area for peritoneal patients and in the chest for those with pleural or pericardial mesothelioma.

Recognizing Symptoms

Just like any other disease, the symptoms of mesothelioma vary from case to case and with the severity of the illness. The type of mesotelioma - whether pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial - also determines what the symptoms might be. Often times, the general overall health of the individual, as well as his/her age, may also play a role in how the patient is affected by the disease and which symptoms are most bothersome.

One of the most difficult problems with diagnosing mesotelioma and connecting the symptoms with the disease is the fact that so many of the symptoms - both individually and in tandem - can easily be mistaken for other more common diseases like flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, and others.

A doctor well versed in mesotelioma treatment will take time to investigate a patient’s history and hopefully connect past exposure to asbestos with the symptoms. Patients, however, can do their part as well. Anyone that was ever exposed to asbestos, even if it was decades ago, should inform their doctor of the exposure. That information will not only aid the doctor in diagnosis but will also help eliminate the need for many costly and uncomfortable tests that may be ordered while fishing for a diagnosis.

Tests are being developed that will help diagnose mesotelioma at an earlier stage, even before the most common symptoms appear. It is hoped that these tests will aid in treating the disease before it reaches its most advanced stages.