Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

One of the most important aspects of Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the symptoms that are likely to accompany the disease. Many people now as well as in the future with prior asbestos exposure will wonder if pain they are experiencing could be attributed to mesothelioma. While many patients experience many different types of symptoms, there are many that are common and likely to occur.

It is extremely important to see a physician if you have previous asbestos exposure and one or more of the common symptoms. The most common symptom of MPM is chest pain. Naturally, the chest region is an obvious area that pain would be experienced because the lungs are located in this area of the body which is the site of the pleura and therefore the tumor.  The natural breathing motion of the lungs causes irritation in the tumor area. As a result, pain in the chest and lungs is almost guaranteed to occur. Radiation treatments have been found to greatly alleviate chest pain in many patients. It is only temporary relief in many cases however.

A second symptom that frequently occurs in MPM patients is dyspnea, or difficulty breathing. The pleural thickening of mesothelioma interrupts the motion of the lungs in that they cannot perform their natural function to allow the person to breathe normally. Along with the chest pain experienced as a result of this it also makes the patient unable to breathe in the way that the body is created to experience breathing. The breathing difficulty usually worsens with time as the tumor becomes more invasive and affects other regions surrounding the lungs. Dyspnea can often be temporarily relieved when the physician performs a procedure where pleural fluid is drained using a needle. This particular symptom of MPM can obviously be extremely dangerous because the failure to receive oxygen will cause unconsciousness and eventual death.

In addition to the two major symptoms of mesothelioma, patients have reported a number of other symptoms that occur as a result. Clubbing, which is an enlargement on the ends of the fingers and toes, occurs very frequently with many types of lung cancer including MPM. Fatigue and loss of energy are also sometimes experienced. Less frequently reported symptoms include weight loss, anorexia and hypoglycemia.

It is essential to your health to discuss any and all possible symptoms with a qualified physician before receiving or reviewing treatment options. Many of the symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma can be temporarily relieved but not cured. Remember that a proper understanding of your symptoms will lead to the proper diagnosis.