Mesothelioma Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma? 

The most common mesothelioma symptom is pleural effusion, which is fluid buildup in the space between the lungs and chest wall. This generally occurs in patients with pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of the disease. 

Shortness of breath, coughing and hoarseness are additional symptoms of this type of mesothelioma. Tumors developing in the lung lining cause these issues.

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma often experience a fluid buildup in the abdomen, called ascites. Regardless of the type of mesothelioma, many patients also report fatigue, pain and weight loss. 

Many symptoms don’t appear until mesothelioma progresses to later stages. This can make getting a diagnosis challenging.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

Early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include a dry, persistent cough and shortness of breath. Pleural effusion is often the first sign of pleural mesothelioma. It frequently causes chest pain and difficulty breathing. Symptoms such as trouble swallowing may develop as the disease progresses.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms typically affect the lungs, but they can also impact the body as a whole. They’re sometimes mistaken for signs of other, more common conditions. 

“Many oncologists, primary care providers and even pulmonologists don’t realize that a pleural effusion or shortness of breath and pain could be mesothelioma because it is so rare,” Dr. Jeffrey Velotta, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente, told The Mesothelioma Center. “If they know what to look for, they can refer patients to mesothelioma specialists.”

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer commonly causes abdominal and digestive symptoms, such as bloating, pain, diarrhea and constipation. Abdominal pain is a very common peritoneal mesothelioma symptom. Between 30% to 80% of patients with peritoneal mesothelioma experience abdominal distension, according to a 2023 study in the journal Oncology in Clinical Practice. It may be accompanied by poor appetite and weight loss. Tumors can also cause small bowel obstruction.

Less commonly, peritoneal mesothelioma can also cause diffuse symptoms throughout the body. Some patients report fatigue, fever and difficulty breathing as a result of the disease. 

Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma typically include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath or an irregular heartbeat. Cough, fever, night sweats and weakness are also common. Patients in later stages of the disease may experience pressure on their heart because of fluid buildup, a common symptom of benign mesothelioma.

The symptoms are often mistaken for other, more common conditions. Because pericardial mesothelioma is one of the rarest forms of cancer, with only about 150 cases reported in medical literature, doctors may not initially suspect pericardial mesothelioma.

“Patients can present with heart failure initially. It’s not unusual to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma as an incidental finding. You’re not suspecting pericardial mesothelioma. You’re treating pericardial effusion or heart failure or constrictive pericarditis,” Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran, a thoracic surgeon, told The Mesothelioma Center.

Testicular Mesothelioma Symptoms

The most common symptoms of testicular mesothelioma include a lump or inflammation of the testes. Other early symptoms include pain similar to a groin injury. These symptoms are sometimes mistaken for epididymitis, or inflammation of the testes usually from an infection.

Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest of the disease, comprising about 1% of mesothelioma cases. Despite its rarity, if you have a history of asbestos exposure, you should be aware of these symptoms and seek medical attention if they occur.

Rare But Serious Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Serious and less common mesothelioma symptoms include night sweats, fever and small lumps under the skin. Patients with pleural mesothelioma may experience pain or swelling along the sides of the chest. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may develop swelling around the abdomen. 

Thromboses, blood clots that affect the flow of blood through the body, are also possible with pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, according to a 2024 study. Symptoms will vary depending on the clot’s location but can include altered mental state, chest pain, numbness or weakness in one side of your body, or pain in your lower leg. Thrombotic events can be fatal. Certain immunotherapy drugs used to treat the disease may increase the risk of developing blood clots.

Difficulty swallowing and small bowel obstruction may occur as symptoms of late-stage pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, respectively. Some symptoms of mesothelioma may be less noticeable but are no less dangerous. You may have anemia with pale skin, cold extremities or dizziness. Fewer than 10% of patients experience fever or night sweats.

Early-Stage and Late-Stage Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms may not appear in stage 1, making it rare for mesothelioma to be diagnosed this early. It’s more common for patients to be diagnosed in later mesothelioma stages as symptoms become more pronounced.

Mesothelioma symptoms will increase as cancer spreads or metastasizes from the early to late stages. Tumors that develop on distant organs can cause more damage, affecting the diaphragm, cardiac lining or liver.

Early-Stage Mesothelioma Symptoms

Early-stage mesothelioma (stages 1 & 2) most commonly causes fatigue or weakness and pleural effusions. Pain and breathing problems typically follow.

Localized tumors are typically the cause of early symptoms of mesothelioma. Small tumors that haven’t spread far can cause pleural effusions, ascites, shortness of breath and pain.

Late-Stage Mesothelioma Symptoms

The most common late-stage symptoms of mesothelioma (stages 3 & 4) involve pain and difficulty breathing. This includes fatigue or weakness, shortness of breath, abdominal or chest pain, weight loss and pleural effusions in most patients.

Local and distant spread of mesothelioma to other organs, including the diaphragm, often causes late-stage symptoms. Many of these symptoms are systemic, affecting the whole body. This can indicate that cancer is affecting multiple organs throughout the body.

When Should I See a Doctor?

You should see a doctor immediately if you have chest pain, abdominal pain or other symptoms. This is especially important if you have a history of asbestos exposure. If so, your doctor may arrange for you to have regular mesothelioma screenings as a precaution.

Discuss any possible exposure with your doctor, because asbestos is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma.  Statistics indicate early diagnosis and intervention improves life expectancy for mesothelioma patients. 

Additionally, understanding that asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma is particularly important for those who worked with the toxic mineral or asbestos products. These workers have a higher risk of mesothelioma. 

If you recognize symptoms, make an appointment as soon as possible with a mesothelioma doctor or speak with your general practitioner. Early treatment is more effective in slowing your cancer and improving your survival.

Managing Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma symptom management can include palliative therapies to help reduce pain and increase comfort, as well as traditional treatment options for cancer. Supportive therapies can also help patients and families cope with mesothelioma’s emotional and psychological effects.

Surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation and targeted or gene therapy can remove or reduce tumors that cause mesothelioma symptoms, offering patients relief. However, these treatments can also cause side effects and some can have challenging recoveries. Many patients worry treatment effects may be as bad or worse than their current symptoms and are concerned about how these effects may limit their daily activities.

A good symptom management plan, including pain management, takes your health and specific symptoms into account. Nutrition, exercise and mental health support are all important parts of treating mesothelioma symptoms.

Traditional approaches such as respiratory therapy, physical and occupational therapy and pain medication are sometimes combined with complementary therapies such as massage, gentle yoga or meditation. Support groups can help patients manage emotional aspects of their mesothelioma symptoms and share personal insights into approaches that work for them.

Most Commonly Reported Mesothelioma Symptoms in Our Exclusive Patient Survey

The Mesothelioma Center, in its work with more than 50% of all mesothelioma patients diagnosed each year, conducted a survey of survivors. Because early diagnosis is so critical, affording patients more treatment options, among the questions we asked was about the signs or symptoms of mesothelioma people experienced in early stages of the disease. 

Some of the top 10 signs of mesothelioma they reported were specific to the location where their mesothelioma tumors first developed such as fluid around the lungs or coughing. However, some top signs were common across mesothelioma types, such as fatigue, weight loss and pain.

When asked about their most common symptoms, most respondents reported experiencing symptoms often mistaken for other conditions. These included chest pain and shortness of breath. The nonspecific nature of mesothelioma symptoms can make diagnosis challenging.

Common Questions About Mesothelioma Symptoms

When do mesothelioma symptoms start?

Mesothelioma symptoms tend to present between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure. This delay is known as the latency period. Your level of asbestos exposure, age at exposure and underlying health conditions can affect the latency period. 

Can you have mesothelioma and not know it?

Yes, you may have mesothelioma without any symptoms. Many mesothelioma symptoms are mild and mimic the flu or a stomach virus. Most only appear decades after asbestos exposure. Doctors may also misdiagnose this rare cancer as other illnesses, delaying your mesothelioma diagnosis.

Can mesothelioma symptoms come on suddenly?

Yes, some mesothelioma symptoms may occur suddenly. Some patients do not experience symptoms until the cancer has spread to another organ, such as the kidneys or liver. The cancer location determines the type and severity of symptoms you may have.

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