The only way to tell if you have mesothelioma is to get medical testing from a doctor.

While mesothelioma is very aggressive, patients may not have symptoms at first. When symptoms like a cough and shortness of breath do appear, they could be mistaken as more common and less serious health issues.

Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, so it’s important to get testing if you think you were exposed to it. If diagnostic tests confirm that you have this cancer, a mesothelioma specialist can recommend treatments to help you live as long and as comfortably as possible.

How Do I Know If I Have Mesothelioma?

You may have mesothelioma if you’re experiencing breathing or digestive problems and were exposed to asbestos, even if it happened decades ago.

Common symptoms of mesothelioma include:

  • A cough that won’t go away
  • Appetite and weight loss
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Fluid buildup in different parts of the body
  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling of the abdomen

If you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos and is concerned about the risk of mesothelioma, contact a doctor. They can use diagnostic tests to determine what’s going on and recommend a treatment plan if needed.

Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to explore symptoms of this cancer, top doctors and treatment options, and resources that can help you afford medical expenses.

Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Many mesothelioma patients don’t experience any symptoms of this cancer at first, according to Penn Medicine. When initial symptoms do appear, they’re usually mild but worsen over time.

Early mesothelioma symptoms to watch out for include:

  • Bloating
  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Stomach pain
  • Weight loss

Another key warning sign is pleural effusion, or fluid buildup in the lining of the lungs (pleura). Pleural effusion can cause shortness of breath and chest pain, and is the first sign of pleural mesothelioma in up to 80% of cases, according to a 2022 Pathology International report.

However, early mesothelioma symptoms may be mistaken for more common conditions like the flu or pneumonia since this cancer is so rare. This can lead to a delayed diagnosis.

“His very early symptoms were a slight hacky cough and spitting up mucus. I tried to convince him to go get it checked, but he kept saying we had an appointment with the doctor in a month or six weeks and he’d wait till then.”

Jan Putt, wife of mesothelioma survivor Art Putt

Late Symptoms of Mesothelioma

As mesothelioma tumors spread through the body, existing symptoms will worsen and new ones may appear.

Symptoms of late-stage mesothelioma include:

  • Bloody cough
  • Changes in bowel movements
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Digestive issues
  • Night sweats
  • Significant weight loss

“At the beginning, he didn’t feel much discomfort, but as the cancer spread, his shortness of breath got worse.”

Gloria Barcena, wife of mesothelioma warrior Juan Barcena

If you’re experiencing potential symptoms of asbestos-caused cancer that have been worsening over time, it’s important to get them checked out promptly by a mesothelioma doctor.

Tests Used to Diagnose Mesothelioma

Doctors perform a number of tests to diagnose mesothelioma. Often, the first step is assessing your symptoms and health history, including whether you or someone you love has ever been exposed to asbestos.

Imaging scans may then be used to look inside the body for possible signs of cancer, such as tumors.

Commonly used imaging scans for mesothelioma include:

  • Chest X-rays: This is often the first imaging scan performed. It allows doctors to get a picture of what’s going on in and around the lungs or abdomen.
  • CT scans: Similar to X-rays, CT scans use multiple angles to create a three-dimensional image.
  • MRIs: These scans are more intensive than X-rays and CT scans and can capture detailed images of the body’s soft tissues.
  • PET scans: Using a mildly radioactive sugar (radiotracer), PET scans help illuminate active cancer cells so they can be seen by doctors.

If doctors find signs of mesothelioma using these imaging tests, they’ll order a biopsy. This is the only way to confirm a diagnosis and involves analyzing a sample of fluid or tissue under a microscope for cancer cells.

“An MRI was done, and fluid was found in my lungs. The doctor thought I should have a biopsy. I started having breathing problems, and my husband took me to the emergency room twice to have fluid taken off the chest. He said, ‘That’s it. You’re going to do what the doctor said.’”

Dr. Bonnie Snyder, pleural mesothelioma survivor

Call (866) 608-8933 now for help finding specialists who can promptly diagnose and treat mesothelioma cancer.

Getting a Second Opinion for Mesothelioma

After undergoing different diagnostic tests, you may want to seek out a mesothelioma second opinion before starting any treatments. Through a second opinion, your diagnosis will be reviewed to ensure that it is accurate.

Mesothelioma is incredibly rare, with only around 3,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the U.S. Because of this, and since the symptoms are similar to other health problems, misdiagnosis is common.

However, a misdiagnosis can have very negative consequences for your health since you’ll be getting treated for the wrong condition. As a result, getting a second opinion — preferably from a mesothelioma specialist — is crucial for your health.

Second opinions for mesothelioma can:

  • Confirm your original diagnosis, allowing you to confidently move forward with your treatment plan
  • Ensure that a mesothelioma misdiagnosis has not occurred
  • Potentially give you access to more mesothelioma treatment options

“Only seeing a local oncologist (cancer doctor) for a long time was a mistake. Mesothelioma specialists are the only doctors who can provide you with the right information about this form of cancer.”

Karen D’Alessandro, daughter of mesothelioma survivor Gene D’Alessandro

Use our Free Mesothelioma Doctor Match to find specialists near you who can help diagnose you or provide second opinions.

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How To Know If You Have Mesothelioma & When To Get Help

The only way to know for sure if you have mesothelioma is to seek prompt medical attention, ideally from doctors who specialize in this cancer.

Because mesothelioma is so aggressive, it’s important to reach out to a specialist as soon as possible. Doing so could help you get diagnosed earlier when mesothelioma is easier to treat.

At Mesothelioma Hope, we stand ready to assist anyone concerned about mesothelioma get the answers they deserve.

Our Patient Advocates can help you:

  1. Find out where you may have been exposed to asbestos
  2. Connect with mesothelioma doctors for a diagnosis or second opinion
  3. Pursue compensation to pay for treatments and other expenses

Call (866) 608-8933 or get matched with a mesothelioma doctor near you now.

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Laura WrightWritten by:

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Laura Wright is a journalist and content strategist with more than 17 years of professional experience. She attended college at the University of Florida, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2008. Her writing has been featured in The Gainesville Sun and other regional publications throughout Florida.

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References
  1. American Cancer Society. (2018, November 16). Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html.
  2. Moffitt Cancer Center. (n.d.). How Do You Know If You Have Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.moffitt.org/cancers/mesothelioma/faqs/how-do-you-know-if-you-have-mesothelioma/.
  3. Nabeshima, K. (2022, May 21). Update of pathological diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma using genomic-based morphological techniques, for both histological and cytological investigations. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pin.13235.
  4. Penn Medicine. (n.d.). Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.pennmedicine.org/conditions/mesothelioma.

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