Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting disorders, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, difficulty swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Pleura effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung 
• Shortness of breat
• Fatigue or anemia 
• Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough 
• Blood in the sputum (fluid), cough (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. Individuals may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. This disease can spread, or spread, to other parts of the body.
Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at the final stage. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Ascites, or the abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
• Mass in abdomen
• Problems with intestinal function
• Weight loss

In severe cases of disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

• blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Low blood sugar levels
• Pleural effusion
• Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the pulmonary artery
• Severe ascites

Mesothelioma A does not usually spread to the brain, bone, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.
Staging of mesothelioma information is based on recommendations by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. TNM classification of primary tumor, lymph node involvement, and distant metastases are made. Mesothelioma is staged He-IV (single-A for four) based on the TNM status.