Mesothelioma is a serious cancer mainly caused by exposure to asbestos. The symptoms can vary based on where the cancer develops: it can often be found around the lungs, but can also affect the areas around the heart, abdomen, or in rare occasions, the testicles in men.
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos before, you should stay alert to the following key warning signs:
1. **Breathlessness:** Shortness of breath, especially if it comes out of nowhere, could be a sign. Although getting out of breath from physical activity is a common thing, sudden breathlessness is a good reason to check with your doctor.
2. **Persistent Dry Cough:** A long-term dry cough can also indicate mesothelioma. If you’ve had a consistent cough for over a month, even if you’re a smoker, it’s important to see your doctor. They can use an x-ray to check for any problems in your lungs.
3. **Unusual Fatigue:** Feeling extremely tired can be a symptom of many cancers, including mesothelioma. If you’re feeling fatigued and it’s not due to physical or mental exhaustion, it could be a warning sign.
4. **Pain:** People with mesothelioma often experience pain. This might mean chest pain for those with pleural mesothelioma, abdominal discomfort for those with peritoneal mesothelioma, or chest pain and heart palpitations in cases of pericardial mesothelioma.
5. **Trouble Swallowing:** Difficulty swallowing is a primary symptom of pleural mesothelioma, and it can be associated with other symptoms including chest pain, weight loss, malnutrition, and loss of appetite.
6. **Fevers and Night Sweats:** Although fevers and night sweats can be linked to infections, they can also signify mesothelioma, especially in its later stages.
7. **Fluid Buildup:** This symptom, known as pleural effusion, is common in cases of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of fluid buildup can include fatigue, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath, along with chest or abdominal pain.
8. **Unexplained Weight Loss:** Sudden or unexplained weight loss can be a warning sign of mesothelioma, particularly peritoneal and pleural types.
9. **Nausea:** Feeling sick and tired and having a tendency to vomit is common with peritoneal mesothelioma. However, these symptoms can also be associated with other illnesses.
10. **Irregular Heartbeat:** An irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, is typically a symptom of pericardial mesothelioma, a rare type of mesothelioma that affects the lining of the heart.
If you’re experiencing symptoms like abdominal or chest pain or trouble breathing, it’s important to see a doctor. These could be signs of a serious disease like mesothelioma.
Tagged: mesothelioma, top 10 warning signs
