First Signs of Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma Lung cancer begins as tiny nodules developing on the linings of the lungs. The cancer symptoms present themselves only after twenty to fifty years of asbestos exposure.
The early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma lung cancer consist of difficulty breathing, fluid buildup, and chest pain. Common peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include bloating of the stomach, changes in bowel movement, lack appetite, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss
It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma during 1st and 2nd stage. It is based on symptoms alone, as it does not exhibit its symptoms until much later in the progression of the disease.
Early-stage mesothelioma can cause enough pleural fluid to fill in the lung to cause shortness of breath, and coughs.
The most common mesothelioma lung cancer symptoms include dry coughs or wheezing, shortness of breath, and other respiratory complications. Apart from this, the patient may also have chest or abdominal pains, fever, night sweats, muscle weakness, and fatigue.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
A biopsy can confirm if you have mesothelioma lung cancer. Routine tests, such as X-ray or blood tests, can also detect anomalies.
Inform your doctor about any instances of asbestos exposure. Having a cancer screening done can also help with an early mesothelioma diagnosis and a much better chance at life-extending therapy.
Eating right, and having a balanced diet while undergoing mesothelioma treatment can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Dr. Vikas Goswami reviews some of the symptoms, such as –
- Common Symptoms by Type
- Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Faint or harsh breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Body aches and fatigue
- Dry cough or wheezing
- Blood clotting disorders
- Chest pains
- Shortness of breath
- Pleural effusions
- Reduced chest expansion
Addressing these symptoms as soon as they appear can significantly improve the treatments and overall life expectancy.
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling of fullness
- Abdominal distention
- Hernia
- Fatigue
- Abdominal fluid buildup
- Bowel obstruction
- Abdominal swelling
To shrink peritoneal mesothelioma lung cancer tumors and slow cancer growth, doctors prescribe chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, carboplatin, pemetrexed, or gemcitabine.
With excellent symptom control and the best treatments, many people live longer due to treatment methods like the Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC).
- Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Breathing Difficulties
- Palpitations
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Chest pains
- Heart palpitations
- Arrhythmias
- Heart murmurs
- Testicular Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Hydrocele
- Lumps in the scrotum sac
- Testicular pain
- Swollen testes
A lump in the testes is one of the most common signs of testicular mesothelioma. This also happens to be the rarest of all types of mesothelioma, and accounts for less than one percent of all mesothelioma lung cancer cases.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma by Stage
A mesothelioma patient will experience a myriad of symptoms from stage 1 to stage 4 mesothelioma lung cancer. The location of the tumor and the organs affected by the tumors will determine the symptoms.
Early stages of mesothelioma
In the early stages of mesothelioma lung cancer, you may notice:
Dry coughs and wheezing
Shortness of breath
Pleural effusion (fluid buildup), leading to difficulties in breathing, and abdominal pain
Difficulty breathing
Chest pain
Late stages of mesothelioma
In the later stages of mesothelioma lung cancer, these symptoms may present themselves:
- Persistent and more intense pain
- Anemia, with fatigue and muscle weakness arising from it
- Complications in the Respiratory passages
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Sudden, unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Obstruction of Bowel Movement
- Causes of Late-Stage Symptoms
Due to the initial small size of the tumor, mesothelioma lung cancer patients don’t usually experience severe symptoms in the early stages of cancer’s growth.
Mesothelioma tumors don’t typically enlarge enough to press against the organs and other body parts until stage 3 or stage 4.
The patient may experience chest pain: primarily due to tumors pushing into the chest wall and the nerve housing in it. Tumors restrict full expansion of the lungs and hence cause difficulty breathing.
Tumors spreading extensively into the pleural lining of lymph nodes in the chest causes pleural effusion. This prevents fluid from adequately draining out of the pleural cavity, and hence restricts the lung from expanding.
Coping with Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma lung cancer symptoms resulting from cancer itself end up being a bit similar to some of the side effects of cancer treatment. These side effects usually diminish within a few days or weeks after the treatment ends.
It is recommended that one approaches and acquires palliative care too. Palliative care doctors specialize in symptom management and improving the quality of life.
Looking for Palliative treatment? Visit the best oncologist in Delhi to get the best treatment.
