Symptoms of Mesothelioma Exposed Individuals

Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that originates from the mesothelium, a membrane-like tissue that lines the organs and the blood vessels of the body. The mesothelium is where most of the blood and lymphatic fluids, including the white blood cells, are produced. During the months of childhood, mesothelioma is usually present and does not lead to any symptoms.

The Cancer: "Mesothelioma" is a term that describes either malignant or non-malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-malignant pleural mesothelioma is typically thought to be the more common type, which originates from the pleura, the fleshy covering that covers the lungs. The major difference between the two types of mesothelioma is that the latter type is usually diagnosed during the latter stages of the disease. Though malignant mesothelioma usually can be detected at an earlier stage, the prognosis is considerably less.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Diagnosis depends on a number of factors, including your medical history and other symptoms and signs that may have surfaced previously. A series of tests may be necessary to determine if you have mesothelioma. These tests include X-rays, abdominal ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs, to name a few.

If there is no sign of mesothelioma in the early stages, then the next step would be to perform surgery to remove your lung. Another procedure, called pleurectomy, may be performed if the lump in the pleura is not large and possibly malignant.

In addition to cancer, which is the major risk factors for mesothelioma, smoking, age, family history, and radiation exposure are also factors that may increase your chances of developing the disease. The risk of mesothelioma increases with each year of age you reach, but the risk of developing it even after you are past 70 years old is still very high.

Symptoms: The earliest symptom is typically chest pain. The pain will fluctuate between the left and right sides of the chest. Sometimes the pain will only occur in one side of the chest. In the later stages of the disease, there will be fluid in the pleural cavity, which is where the fluid that is produced by the lungs and air sacs goes.

The chest pains that accompany the development of mesothelioma are very similar to the pains that a person would feel after an acute bout of coughing. There may also be discomfort in the abdomen and back area.

Early signs of mesothelioma exposure may also include swelling in the legs or hands, but these are not always present in the later stages of the disease. The majority of patients who develop mesothelioma over the course of their lifetime will develop symptoms at some point in their lives.

Some people have differing reactions to different symptoms. Certain people have chronic respiratory infections and others do not. Others have constipation and others do not.

It is very important to be checked regularly at the first sign of a problem in the early stage of the disease. Early detection will reduce the chance of you developing the condition into a fatal one.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma Exposed Individuals should receive medical attention for possible signs of mesothelioma exposure. Medical examinations may include abdominal ultrasounds, X-rays, MRI's, chest X-rays, and bronchoscopy, to name a few.

Physical examinations may include exams that measure lung capacity, lung function, pulse rate, and the ability to cough. You may be given medications for pain control, chest x-rays, bronchoscopy, and bronchospasmolysis, to name a few. and sometimes you may need a surgical procedure called pleurectomy, to remove the affected lung.