What Are the Early Warning Signs of Mesothelioma?
Early signs and symptoms of mesothelioma typically appear 10-50 years after asbestos exposure (the only known cause of this cancer). They are usually mild at first and can easily be mistaken for more common health issues.
Common mesothelioma early symptoms include:
- Chest or stomach pain
- Fatigue
- Fluid buildup
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
See an oncologist (cancer doctor) if you notice any of these early signs of mesothelioma and if you have ever been exposed to asbestos. Diagnosing mesothelioma symptoms early can make a big difference in your treatment options and survival.
Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with specialists near you who can properly diagnose and treat any potential symptoms of mesothelioma.
Early Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma symptoms depend on where the cancer forms. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common type. It develops in the lung lining (pleura) and causes breathing problems.
Over 80% of pleural mesothelioma cases start with pleural effusion. This is fluid buildup in the lining of the lungs that causes difficulty breathing.
Other early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
- Hacking cough
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Night sweats
These early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma could be mistaken for more common — and less serious — health issues like a cold at first. However, they typically won’t clear up and may worsen as pleural mesothelioma spreads beyond the lung lining.
“All that fluid building up causes the stomach to decompress, which is a signal to the stomach that it’s full, and in turn, you don’t feel hungry. So that’s one of the reasons patients lose weight.”
Early Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is the next most common type, affecting the abdominal lining (peritoneum). The first symptom is usually abdominal distention or bloating, which is found in up to 80% of patients.
More early peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Appetite loss
- Nausea
- Peritoneal effusion (ascites)
- Weight loss
Many early symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma stem from peritoneal effusions, as this fluid buildup can cause pain, bloating, and a feeling of fullness.
Call (866) 608-8933 if you’re worried about possible mesothelioma symptoms. Our Patient Advocates can help you find top mesothelioma doctors to diagnose and treat you.
“I had my very first overt symptoms on August 8, and by August 23 I was on an operating table having a tumor debulking.”
Early Symptoms of Rare Mesothelioma Types
In very rare cases, mesothelioma can form in the lining of the heart (pericardium) or testicles (tunica vaginalis), causing varying symptoms.
Here are the early symptoms for each type:
- Pericardial mesothelioma: Shortness of breath, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat
- Testicular mesothelioma: Scrotum swelling, pain, and fluid buildup
While these types only affect a few hundred people annually, make sure to see an oncology specialist if you’re concerned that your symptoms could stem from mesothelioma.
Early vs. Late Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
As mesothelioma spreads throughout the body, the early symptoms can worsen, and new ones may appear.
Late-stage mesothelioma symptoms may include:
- Changes in bowel movements
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Digestion issues
- Night sweats
- Severe chest wall or abdominal pain
Don’t wait for potential symptoms of mesothelioma to worsen — if you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have this cancer, make sure to see a specialist as soon as possible.
Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to explore symptoms, treatments, and financial compensation that can help you at any step of your cancer journey.
How to Diagnose Mesothelioma Early
Mesothelioma is very aggressive, so diagnosing potential symptoms quickly is key to getting treatment. If a mesothelioma diagnosis is made early, patients may have more treatment options available to help them live longer.
However, it’s hard to diagnose mesothelioma symptoms early since they can mimic signs of less serious health issues like the flu. As a result, a general doctor could easily make a misdiagnosis.
A great way to help prevent a misdiagnosis of your early symptoms is to tell your doctor if you were exposed to asbestos, since this is the only known cause of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma doctors may then recommend tests like imaging scans or biopsies (fluid or tissue samples) to determine if your symptoms are caused by mesothelioma or another illness.
“Patients who are older with shortness of breath have multiple different diagnoses that can lead to that symptom.”
Treatment for Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Doctors can use several different mesothelioma treatments to help manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and potentially extend life expectancy.
Standard treatments that help early symptoms of mesothelioma include:
- Surgery: Physically removes mesothelioma tumors.
- Chemotherapy: Uses powerful medications to destroy cancer cells
- Immunotherapy: Helps boost the body’s natural immune response to cancer
- Radiation therapy: Damages the DNA of mesothelioma cells and prevents them from multiplying
Patients who see a specialist for mesothelioma symptoms early on may be able to access more of these major treatments.
Doctors typically combine two or more therapies in a multimodal treatment plan to achieve the best results.
Palliative Care for Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Besides potentially life-extending therapies, doctors can use palliative treatments specifically tailored to easing pain and other common symptoms of mesothelioma. Learn about palliative care options below.
Catheters
Health care providers can place a portable catheter in the space between the lungs and chest wall to treat repeated pleural effusions.
This catheter allows patients to easily drain fluid buildup at home without having to make multiple trips to the hospital.
Pleurodesis
Doctors may recommend that pleural mesothelioma patients undergo a pleurodesis if they’re experiencing recurring pleural effusions.
During a mesothelioma pleurodesis, doctors drain the effusion and then irritate the pleura, which has an inner and outer layer. This irritation seals the two pleural layers together so fluid can’t build up inside. Doctors can use chemicals like talc or a dry abrasion to perform a pleurodesis.
Thoracentesis and Paracentesis
Doctors may recommend a thoracentesis for pleural mesothelioma patients. A thoracentesis drains pleural effusions through the use of a small needle so patients can breathe more easily.
A similar procedure known as a paracentesis can be used to treat ascites in cases of peritoneal mesothelioma. These procedures can be repeated if ascites or pleural effusions return after being drained.
Contact us now for help finding treatments to manage the early symptoms of mesothelioma and potentially help you live longer.
Other Treatments for Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Doctors can use various other treatments to manage early symptoms of mesothelioma.
Some of these include:
- Dietary changes to naturally address symptoms
- Minor surgeries to reduce tumor size
- Pain management therapies
Your cancer care team can recommend mesothelioma treatments that will be most effective in your case.
Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with top mesothelioma specialists who can provide the expert care you need.
Get Help for Early Mesothelioma Symptoms
Catching mesothelioma symptoms early is crucial. Early detection may allow you to get the care needed to reduce your symptoms and potentially live longer.
Some mesothelioma patients became long-term survivors by getting their symptoms checked promptly, as doctors were able to catch the cancer before it spread.
Mesothelioma Hope is here to help if you or someone you love is experiencing early symptoms of this cancer.
Our Patient Advocates can:
- Connect you with top doctors and hospitals
- Help you understand potential symptoms of this cancer
- See if you qualify for compensation to cover medical bills
Use our Free Doctor Match or call (866) 608-8933 now to get started.
Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma FAQs
What does early mesothelioma feel like?
Early mesothelioma may cause mild discomfort that worsens over time.
Potential early symptoms of mesothelioma include:
- Abdominal or chest pain
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Fluid buildup in the abdomen or lung lining
What early mesothelioma will feel like varies from person to person. However, if you were exposed to asbestos and notice any of these symptoms, see a doctor promptly and tell them you’re concerned about mesothelioma.
How early can you detect mesothelioma?
It typically takes 9 months from the start of early mesothelioma symptoms for doctors to confirm a diagnosis.
However, it may be possible to get a mesothelioma diagnosis earlier in some cases by promptly seeing a doctor after developing symptoms.
Be sure to let your doctor know if you or a loved one was ever exposed to asbestos. This can help them rule out more common illnesses as possible causes of your symptoms.
In some cases, mesothelioma patients have even been diagnosed with mesothelioma before developing symptoms when seeing a doctor for unrelated reasons.
What are the first signs of mesothelioma?
The first symptoms of mesothelioma vary by where the cancer develops in the body. The first symptom for most cases of pleural mesothelioma is a pleural effusion. This is fluid buildup in the lining of the lungs that causes chest pain and difficulty breathing.
For peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdominal lining, the first sign is typically abdominal bloating or distention. This may be caused by undetected peritoneal effusions, also known as ascites.
Call (866) 608-8933 now to speak with a Patient Advocate if you have possible early symptoms of mesothelioma. Our team can help you figure out your next steps.
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