Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is nearly always associated with exposure to asbestos. In mesothelioma cases, malignant cells develop in the protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs- the mesothelium.
The area the disease occurs in most commonly is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it can also be present in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), tunica vaginalis, the heart, or the pericardium.
Often it is 20-50 years after the exposure to asbestos that symptoms occur. These can include shortness of breath, a pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid, and a cough. Pleura- affecting Mesothelioma can cause the following symptoms:
o Chest wall pain
o Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
o Shortness of breath
o Fatigue or anemia
o Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
o Blood in the hemoptysis ( the fluid we cough up)
In severe cases, mesothelioma manifests itself in tumour masses, or a sufferer may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. Mesothelioma can also spread to other parts of the body- often very quickly.
With tumors that affect the abdominal cavity, the symptoms are not apparent until the illness is at a late stage. These symptoms often include:
o Pain in the abdominal
o Sudden weight loss
o Problems with bowel function
o Fluid build up in the abdomen
There are also many other symptoms, which are present in more severe cases of the disease, such as clots in the veins, jaundice, low blood sugar & bleeding in the organs.Usually in cases of mesothelioma the disease doesn't spread to the brain, bone or adrenal glands.
Source by Jessica O'Neal