Everything You Need To Know About Mesothelioma

Signs And Symptoms

As previously mentioned, mesothelioma can take years to develop, and may not have visible signs for years, or the symptoms displayed are believed to be related to another condition. The most common symptoms of mesothelioma are shortness of breath, frequent chest pain, obstruction of the bowels, a persistent and chronic cough, and noticeable weight loss. Other symptoms include abdominal swelling, tenderness, and pain, the development of the blood disorder anemia, and lumps that can be felt underneath the skin in the chest or abdomen area.

Treatment Options

As this aggressive cancer is usually only diagnosed when it has become advanced, treatment options are usually limited. Surgery may be an option if the diagnosis is made early. In those cases, surgery is used to remove cancer if it has not spread widely, to decrease fluid build-up in the abdomen and sometimes for the removal of an affected lung. Surgery may also be used to remove the tissue surrounding the heart or abdomen, but this is a way to help relieve painful symptoms, and unfortunately, will not cure the cancer.