Mesothelioma – Symptoms & Diagnosis
The onset of mesothelioma symptoms is usually very slow,
and may not appear until 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. The
following symptoms are frequently reported by those with mesothelioma, but they
are also associated with other medical conditions. This information is provided
for your information only, and should NOT take the place of a full medical
diagnosis. If you are experiencing any of the below symptoms, immediately
consult your doctor or another health care professional. For more information
about your legal options, visit the law firm website of
Belluck & Fox, LLP. You can also find vital information about the disease at
our dedicated
mesothelioma website.
Symptoms of
Mesothelioma of the Lungs
- Pleural effusions – an accumulation of fluid
between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. As the volume of fluid
increases, pain and shortness of breath – also called “dyspnea” – may occur.
- Chest or back pain – may be caused by a
build-up of fluid in the pleural lining of the lungs and result in areas of
localized pain. Chest pain occurs more often on the right side of the body,
as mesothelioma affects the right lung 60 percent of the time. Only 5
percent of patients have mesothelioma in both lungs.
- Swelling of the face and arms – can indicate a
spreading of the cancer beyond the lungs.
- Other reported symptoms – may include chronic
hoarseness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), coughing up blood
(hemoptysis), fever, muscle weakness, sensory loss, and nausea.
Symptoms of
Mesothelioma of the Abdomen
- Pain or swelling of the abdomen – may be caused
by a build-up of fluid in the abdomen (ascites).
- Bowel obstruction – may indicate a tumor in the
abdominal membranes which exerts pressure on the organs in the abdomen.
- Weight loss or anemia – may occur as the result
of abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, and the pressure exerted by the
presence of a tumor.
- Other reported symptoms – may include frequency
in urination, night sweats, fever, and loss of muscle tissue.
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the above
symptoms, consult your doctor right away. It is important that mesothelioma be
detected as early as possible. Unfortunately, a proper diagnosis of
mesothelioma can be difficult to obtain. Here’s why:
- Many doctors are not familiar with the disease because
it is quite rare in the general population (although it is widespread among
people, especially workers in certain industries, who have been exposed to
asbestos).
- The general symptoms of the most common type of
mesothelioma are chest pain and shortness of breath, which may be improperly
recognized as indicators of other medical problems.
- Early detection is impeded by the 10 to 50-year
latency period between the time of asbestos exposure and the time
mesothelioma symptoms begin to appear. Nevertheless, there are several
medical procedures available to aid in the accurate diagnosis of
mesothelioma.
Evaluations
The initial evaluation you have with your doctor plays a
critical role in obtaining an accurate diagnosis. The evaluation involves
questions that are designed to help determine the timeframe and setting in which
you may have been exposed to asbestos. Honest and extensive communication with
your doctor is important for early detection.
In addition to compiling a detailed medical history, your
doctor will perform a complete physical examination, which may include:
- Listening to your chest cavity for dull or muted
sounds while breathing or talking.
- Tapping on your chest cavity for solid sounds.
- Checking for enlarged lymph nodes.
Regrettably, rarely is a patient’s mesothelioma revealed
through an initial evaluation. However, if a patient’s symptoms, medical
history, risk factors, and physical examination combine to indicate the
possibility of mesothelioma, medical tests are available to determine if the
disease is actually present. The results of procedures such as imaging tests,
pathology tests, and pulmonary function tests can be compared to form a
diagnosis.
Imaging
Tests
This includes technologies that allow doctors to image, or
see, internal organs and tissues that might show the presence of fluid or
tumors.
- Chest X-Rays – can show an unusual thickening of the
membrane that covers the lungs (the pleura), a lowering of the spaces
between the lobes of the lungs, fluid in the lungs, and irregular masses.
- CT (computed-tomography) scan – can show distinct
aspects of the lungs and pleura through more sophisticated images than
conventional X-rays.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – can show highly
detailed images of the body’s soft tissues as well as the extent of
mesothelioma, if present.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) – can pinpoint the
regions of active disease, identify extremely small cancerous cells,
indicate benign or malignant cells, and help determine whether treatment
therapies are working.
Pathology
Tests
This includes technologies that allow doctors to remove
fluid or tissue and get a definitive diagnosis from a medical specialist called
a "pathologist"
- Thoracoscopy – uses a telescope-like instrument
connected to a video camera to take tissue or fluid samples from the chest.
- Laparoscopy – uses a flexible tube attached to a video
camera to take tissue or fluid samples from the abdomen.
- Bronchoscopy – uses a flexible lighted tube to take
tissue from the lungs.
- Mediastinoscopy – uses a flexible lighted tube to take
tissue from the lymph nodes, which are groups of immune system cells that
help the body fight infection. By examining the lymph nodes, the doctor can
determine if the cancer has spread.
Pulmonary
Function Tests (PFTs)
This includes technologies that allow doctors to evaluate a
patient’s entire respiratory system. PFTs can be used to assess and diagnose
pulmonary disease as well as help in determining a path of treatment. PFTs can
be quite simple. One example is a peak flow measurement test. Other PFTs are
performed in hospitals or clinics due to their complex nature. Those include
body plethysmography and ventilation/perfusion scans.
