People who have worked around asbestos at some point in their lives may be at risk for developing certain illnesses. One serious illness that can be caused by asbestos exposure is called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer that affects four areas of the body. It originates in the mesothelium which is a membrane surrounding various organs in the body. The cancer can affect the lungs or the pleura as well as the peritoneum or the abdominal cavity. It can also affect the pericardium or the heart as well as the reproductive organs.

The symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific and can be attributed to a variety of illnesses many of which are less serious than mesothelioma. Because of this, you may not receive a proper diagnosis until the disease is in advanced stages. Knowing how to identify symptoms of mesothelioma is important, especially if you have worked around asbestos. This way, you can be properly diagnosed and start receiving early treatment which may enhance your quality of life or even cause the cancer to go into remission.

There are two layers of the pleura that protect the chest cavity and the lungs. The top layer is known as the parietal layer and the inside layer is called the visceral layer. Usually mesothelioma develops in one of the layers of the pleura; however, it can then spread to the other layer.

Asbestos is usually inhaled by people who worked around the material or were otherwise exposed. Asbestos does not break down in the body and fibers become trapped. If asbestos fibers are trapped in the lungs, fluid can begin to build up and patients may start to experience some, or all, of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Patients may have a raspy or dry cough and they may also begin coughing up blood. Patients who have mesothelioma may begin to experience difficulties swallowing or may start to have shortness of breath. This is apparent even when the person is at rest. With pleural mesothelioma, sometimes the patients can develop lumps under the skin of the chest area. They may have pain breathing and may also have persistent pain in the chest or rib area. Patients with pleural mesothelioma may have night sweats, fever, fatigue or weight loss. http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/pleural.php?gclid=CIGR2YiU5J8CFctY2god9m7VGg/ref>

As with pleural mesothelioma, patients with peritoneal mesothelioma most likely have been exposed to asbestos at some point. They may have worked around the substance long ago - even up to fifty years prior to the symptoms surfacing! And as with pleural mesothelioma, when the asbestos fibers enter the body, they become trapped and one of the places that they become trapped is in the peritoneum or abdominal cavity. As cancer cells begin to abnormally grow, tumors may begin to form in this area. The mesothelium, or the membrane that covers and protects the abdominal cavity thickens and fluid forms in the layers of the mesothelium as well. Once this occurs, patients generally begin to experience symptoms as they are caused by the swelling, the build-up of fluid and the tumors that develop in the abdominal area. http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/peritoneal.php

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include pain in the abdominal area. Patients have also reported problems such as diarrhea or constipation. Some of the patients who develop peritoneal mesothelioma have lumps that form under the abdominal skill. They may experience unexplained weight loss, vomiting, fatigue, night sweats and anemia.

Out of the three main types of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest. This type of cancer affects less than five percent of all diagnosed mesothelioma cases. Once again, because the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are non-specific, they can be attributed to other types of illnesses. Patients report symptoms that are similar to some types of cardiovascular disease. http://www.pericardialmesothelioma.org/pericardial-symptoms.php

Some of the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include shortness of breath and patients may have difficulty breathing even when they are at rest. Other symptoms can include pain in the chest area and heart palpitations. They may also have an irregular heartbeat. Other symptoms such as fatigue, night sweats or fever may affect patients with this serious illness. Symptoms occur when asbestos becomes trapped in the body causing the thickening of the pericardium membrane. Fluid begins to buildup between the mesothelium layers as well.

Treatment for each of the types of mesothelioma includes chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to remove the cancer and the tumors. However, this is not always an option for all patients. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, consult a medical professional for treatment options.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.