Posts by: Isaura Santos

Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer that develops in the cells that line certain organs (particularly in the chest and abdomen), due to asbestos exposure. Most commonly, mesothelioma occurs in the cells that line the lungs, which is known as pleural mesothelioma, but it also occurs in the abdomen, known as peritoneal mesothelioma; the heart, known as pericardial mesothelioma; and testicles, known as testicular mesothelioma. The four different types of mesothelioma are defined according to the part of the body affected. The mesothelium is the group of cells that line and help protect the organs, by creating a special lubricating fluid that enables movement between the organs. This type of cancer is often diagnosed after a patient seeks a doctor due to the first signs of the disease. The following symptoms may not be conclusive for a diagnosis, and a physician will need additional tests to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. However, these symptoms may include: 1. Dry cough and wheezing. Coughing is the way the body removes foreign material or mucus from the lungs and airways, or the reaction to an irritated airway. While an occasional cough is normal, a persistent cough can indicate an underlying problem. Similarly, wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound people can make while breathing and can indicate a respiratory problem. In the case of mesothelioma, it is more common among patients who suffer from pleural mesothelioma. In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms are mild, including persistent coughing and/or wheezing and may be mistaken for other lung diseases. However, in late stages of pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms become more specific and severe, including persistent coughing together with coughing up blood (hemoptysis) and wheezing. CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE 2. Shortness of breath. About 70 percent of patients with the disease suffer from pleural mesothelioma. Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms, but it is not always constant. The most common reason for the symptom is pleural effusion, which consists of fluid buildup in the space between the two layers of the pleura. Pleural effusions are progressive and they start to occupy the space in the lungs, causing shortness of breath. As the disease progresses, shortness of breath becomes more severe. In addition, it may be caused by loss of chest wall mobility, a problem related to mesothelioma in the chest wall which makes it less flexible and causes decreased chest movements as a person breathes. Loss of lung volume happens as mesothelioma in the pleura grow into the lung tissue and decrease the lung’s capacity to properly function. Pericardial effusion is also a possibility and it is similar to pleural effusions, but it occurs in the pericardial sac of the heart. Any patient with mesothelioma can suffer from shortness of breath, but it is more common among patients with pleural mesothelioma. CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE 3. Reduced chest expansion. It can take 20 to 50 years from initial exposure to asbestos to the onset of mesothelioma symptoms. The signs of the disease differ according to its form, and reduced chest expansion is related to pleural mesothelioma. Reduced chest expansion is often a symptom of advanced stages of the disease and is caused by the lack of space in the chest. This problem is usually the result of severe pleural effusions, which is a symptom of mesothelioma and related to inflammation of the lung from a tumor growth. Pleural effusions consist of a large amount of fluid accumulated between the lungs and chest cavity. Healthy people have a certain amount of fluid in the pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum which keeps the organs moist. A couple of teaspoons of fluid is normal, but any more and the body will naturally expel it. However, patients who suffer from mesothelioma cannot properly evacuate the fluid and it accumulates in the space between the lungs and chest cavity. In severe cases, the fluid prevents the lungs from functioning normally, causing difficulties breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath and reduced chest expansion. CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE 4. Pain in the abdomen. Abdominal pain, which may also be known as a stomach ache, tummy ache, gut ache, or bellyache, is not uncommon and almost everyone experiences it at some point in their lives. It may be mild or severe, continuous or isolated, acute or chronic, but when it's particularly severe or lasts for weeks, medical help is recommended. In the case of mesothelioma, the abdominal pain results from irritated tissue in the abdomen. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a toxic material that was widely used in construction. When it interacts with other materials, fibers are released into the atmosphere. Asbestos fibers, swollen or inhaled, become trapped in the body and may travel from the digestive system to the peritoneum or through the lymphatic system to the abdomen, causing peritoneal mesothelioma. The presence of asbestos fibers in the abdomen irritate the cells, causing the thickening of the peritoneal lining and buildup of fluid. However, none of these are noticeable, which is why pain is usually the first symptom patients experience. According to the study “Peritoneal Mesothelioma: A Review,” 35 percent of patients cited pain as the initial symptom of peritoneal mesothelioma. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may also complain of stomach and chest pain. CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE 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 spread of cancer. One of the reasons is that 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 can't pump blood properly, regulate or beat. As a result of chest pain, patients often 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. CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE 6. Night sweats or fever. According to the American Cancer Society: Fever is a body temperature of 100.5° F or higher (when taken by mouth) that most often goes up and down over the course of a day. Fever is usually caused by an infection. Other causes of fever include inflammatory illness, drug reactions, or tumor growth. Sometimes, the cause is unknown. When you have an infection, a fever is the body's way of trying to fight invading germs. It's an important natural defense. People getting chemo are more likely to have infections because they have lower numbers of white blood cells needed to fight them. Patients with pleural, peritoneal, pericardial or testicular mesothelioma can experience night sweats or fever, regardless the stage of the disease. However, it is usually more common and severe in stages III or IV mesothelioma. Fever consists not only of increased skin temperature, but also tiredness, headaches, cold and shaking chills, body aches, skin rashes, redness or swelling, pus or yellowish discharge, cough or shortness of breath, belly pain, burning or pain while urinating, and sore throat. CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE 7. Pleural effusions. The pleura is the lining that covers the lungs, and while pleural effusions are more common among patients with pleural mesothelioma, they can occur in patients who suffer from any form of the disease. Pleural effusions is a large amount of fluid that accumulates between the lungs and the chest cavity. In healthy patients, a small amount of lubricating fluid is present in the pleura, pericardium and peritoneum. The fluid keeps the organs moist and when it exceeds its normal level, it's naturally expelled. However, in patients with mesothelioma, the fluid may not be properly evacuated and it accumulates in the mesothelium. CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE 8. Fatigue. Fatigue can be experienced by patients with mesothelioma for one of two reasons. It can take decades between asbestos exposure and the first symptoms, but as the disease progresses, patients start to experience symptoms like weight loss, breathing difficulty, insomnia, anemia, hormonal changes and loss of appetite, which lead to chronic fatigue. In addition, not only can anxiety and depression related to coping with mesothelioma cause fatigue, but fatigue can also be the origin for anxiety and depression. Regarding treatments, it's common for patients to experience fatigue during and after chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Fatigue after chemotherapy or radiation therapy usually gets worse with subsequent cycles and can last even a year or two after the end of the treatment. Patients with mesothelioma who experience fatigue may feel the need to spend more time resting and sleeping, too tired to work or for daily activities. They may feel tired even after sleep, lethargic after minimal exertion, as well as sudden and overpowering fatigue. Factors that contribute to fatigue or its exacerbation include pain medication, nausea medications, treatment-related weight loss, stress, poor sleep, depression, anemia or other blood component imbalances. CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE 9. Weight loss. Weight loss is a symptom of pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma and may be caused by numerous issues...

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