There are several symptoms of mesothelioma, and they may differ according to the type of mesothelioma you have. In most cases, symptoms are often confused with other medical conditions and diseases. This is because the symptoms may be as common as a cough, fatigue and fever—things that you might experience on a regular basis. You might not find them troubling, which is why most people don’t go to the doctor to address them until their condition gets worse. By that time, the cancer is at a later stage and has usually spread to other tissues, making it much more difficult to treat and reducing life expectancy.
Risk factors
You might not want to run to the doctor as soon as you feel anything, but there are factors you should consider that may put you at a higher risk of developing the disease. Do you say yes to any of these?
- Most importantly, you have worked with or near asbestos, such as in the mining, shipyard building or construction industries.
- You are over 45 years old.
- You are male.
If you’ve said yes to these, particularly to the first one, and are feeling unwell, you may want to see your doctor for a checkup. Make sure to tell your doctor about your work history and asbestos exposure.
Symptoms based on mesothelioma type
There are four types of mesothelioma based on the point of origin. While there are many symptoms that are the same for all the types, some may be different.
Pleural mesothelioma
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs.
Read More
Peritoneal mesothelioma
The symptoms of peritoneal meosthelioma, which affects the stomach.
Read More
Pericardial mesothelioma
The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the heart.
Read More
Testicular mesothelioma
The symptoms of testicular mesothelioma, which affects the testicles.
Read More