Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose for several reasons. First, it can take many years for a victim of mesothelioma to develop symptoms of the disease. In many cases, symptoms don’t appear until 10 or as long as 60 years after the victim’s exposure to asbestos. A second problem is that many symptoms of the disease are non-specific, which can lead diagnosticians to initially consider a medical condition other than mesothelioma. Likewise, because mesothelioma is rare, many doctors are unfamiliar with it.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, contact the New York mesothelioma lawyers of Belluck & Fox, LLP, today. Our NY asbestos injury attorneys have investigated mesothelioma cases in every county in the state and have assisted mesothelioma sufferers all across the State of New York, from Long Island to Rochester. Belluck & Fox provides personalized and professional legal representation and can advise you of the legal options available for you and your family.

For more information, call Belluck & Fox, LLP’s New York mesothelioma lawyers toll-free at 1-877-NYLAW09  (695-2909), or use our online contact form.

New York State communities we serve include Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Corning, Elmira, the Finger Lakes region, Jamestown, Long Island, Newburgh, New York, the North Country region, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Schenectady, Syracuse, Utica, Watertown and Westchester County.

Mesothelioma – Difficult To Diagnose

The difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma is unfortunate, because early detection of the disease is crucial for selecting the most effective treatment. Early detection means the best chance for a patient to achieve a favorable long-term outcome in responding to this aggressive cancer. Despite the difficulties of diagnosing mesothelioma, however, there are procedures available for accurately identifying the disease.

The following symptoms may indicate mesothelioma or less serious medical problems. In general, early symptoms of mesothelioma are likely to be similar to pneumonia, but the signs of mesothelioma vary depending on what part of the body is affected by the cancer.

This following is for your information only and should NOT take the place of a proper medical diagnosis. If you experience any symptoms described here, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lungs or chest cavity. It may manifest as:

• Pleural Effusions. The accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity is one of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma. As the volume of fluid increases, it can lead to feelings of fullness or pain along the chest wall and/or a cough.
• Shortness of Breath. Pleural effusions (above), and/or the presence of a tumor(s) of the pleural lining can restrict the lungs and cause shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (dyspnea).
• Chest / Back Pain. Fluid in the pleural lining can create fullness and pressure, causing pain in parts of the chest cavity and the lower back. Chest pain is more likely on the right side, because mesothelioma affects the right lung 60 percent of the time. In very few patients (about 5 percent), mesothelioma occurs in both lungs.
• Hoarseness / Difficulty Swallowing / Coughing up Blood. Chronic hoarseness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and/or coughing up blood (hemoptysis) are exhibited in fewer than 1 percent of undiagnosed mesothelioma sufferers.
• Facial and Arm Swelling. Swollen face or neck areas can indicate the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium.
• Additional symptoms. The mesothelioma patient may also suffer fever, muscle weakness and sensory loss, and nausea.

Common mesothelioma symptoms and the percentage of sufferers who exhibit them:

• Shortness of breath or chest pain: 90 percent.
• Pleural effusions: 84 percent.
• Weight loss: 29 percent.
• Cough, weakness, fever, loss of appetite: 3 percent.
• Hemoptysis (coughing up blood), hoarseness, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing): less than 1 percent.
• Asymptomatic (no symptoms): 3 percent.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Symptoms that mesothelioma has infected the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) include:

• Pain / Swelling. Fluid in the abdomen (ascites) usually causes abdominal pain and swelling in the peritoneal mesothelioma patient.
• Obstructed Bowel. Pressure on the abdominal organs from a tumor(s) in the peritoneum membranes and fluid in the abdomen may cause bowel obstruction and distention.
• Weight Loss / Anemia. Abdominal pain and bowel obstruction, plus the pressure exerted by a tumor(s), may cause nausea, loss of weight, loss of appetite, anemia, and other “wasting symptoms.”
• Other reported symptoms. Tumors in the peritoneal tissues of the abdomen may lead to changes in the patient’s frequency of urination, night sweats, fever, and loss of muscle tissue.

Contact Our New York Mesothelioma Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, contact the New York mesothelioma lawyers of Belluck & Fox, LLP, today. Our NY asbestos injury attorneys have investigated mesothelioma cases in every county in the state and have assisted mesothelioma sufferers all across the State of New York, from Jamestown to Schenectady. Belluck & Fox provides personalized and professional legal representation and can advise you of the legal options available for you and your family.

For more information, call Belluck & Fox, LLP’s New York mesothelioma lawyers toll-free at 1-877-NYLAW09 (695-2909), or use our online contact form.