5. Pain in the chest
Chest pain can be an indicator of numerous conditions, as is the case with mesothelioma. It can take decades between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of the disease, but patients with pleural and pericardial mesothelioma often experience persistent chest pain due to the spreading of cancer. One of the reasons is the fact the disease prevents the lungs and heart from functioning properly. Breathing or pumping blood become more difficult, which results in severe chest pain. Localized pain is often related to mesothelioma growth, while generalized pain is more associated with widespread cell damage.
In the lungs, the spread of mesothelioma creates pressure in the chest and surrounding areas, causing pain. In the heart, the natural muscular rhythm is affected and the heart cannot pump the blood properly, regulate or beat. As a result of chest pain, patients often also experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, shortness of breath and coughing. In addition, the buildup of fluid is also a possibility for patients with mesothelioma, which causes chest pain. Coughing and gasping for air are other problems which affect mesothelioma patients and cause chest pain. Due to its severity, this symptom can be mistaken for a heart attack.
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