Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms may not appear until 30-50 years after asbestos exposure. In its early stages, mesothelioma may have few symptoms or none at all. When the tumor mass grows, pleural mesothelioma symptoms become more noticeable. This is usually due to fluid filling the space where the lungs reside. It is usually around this time that people seek medical help for their symptoms.
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include one or a combination of the following:
| Symptom | Percentage of Mesothelioma Cases in Which the Symptom Appears |
|---|---|
| Fluid in the chest cavity (pleural effusion) | 74% - 84% |
| Chest pain | 33% - 71% |
| Shortness of breath | 6% - 60% |
| Fever | 3% - 33% |
| Weight loss | 14% - 29% |
| Cough | 3% - 27% |
| Coughing up or spitting up blood | 1% - 6% |
| Hoarseness | 1% - 3% |
| Difficulty swallowing | 1% |
As you can see from the chart, pleural mesothelioma symptoms vary widely. The most common symptom is fluid in the chest cavity. As the fluid fills up the chest cavity, it places pressure on the lungs, causing intense pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Relieving pleural mesothelioma symptoms involves removing the fluid, but this provides only temporary relief.
If you have been exposed to asbestos and you are experiencing any of these possible pleural mesothelioma symptoms, you may wish to visit the Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support Center.
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