When Should You See a Doctor About Potential Mesothelioma Symptoms?

If you've ever been exposed to asbestos, you'll have a significantly higher risk of developing mesothelioma, a rare and especially deadly type of cancer. This type of cancer emerges as a response to jagged asbestos fibers, which can lodge themselves in several different areas of your body.

The problem is that mesothelioma symptoms start mild and may be hard to notice. It's also easy to mistake them as symptoms for another, less deadly disease.

So when should you see a doctor about your potential mesothelioma symptoms?

Mesothelioma Symptoms

There are many mesothelioma symptoms to watch for.

For all types of mesothelioma:

• Unexplained weight loss. If you've lost weight recently, and you don't have an explanation for it, it could be a sign that you have mesothelioma.
• Physical fatigue and aches.Mesothelioma is also associated with physical fatigue and aches; you might feel tired and sore all the time. You'll feel especially sore in the affected area.
• Night sweats.People with mesothelioma also report night sweats, waking up in a pool of their own sweat on a regular basis.

For pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs:

• Chest pain. Chest pain, from mild to severe, is usually associated with pleural mesothelioma.
• Persistent coughing.We all cough from time to time, but coughs associated with this type of mesothelioma are especially hard to control and are persistent.
• Shortness of breath.You may also experience shortness of breath, even in the absence of physical activity that would warrant shortness of breath.
• Fluid buildup in the pleura. A doctor may be able to detect fluid buildup in the pleura, around the lungs.

For peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdomen:

• Abdominal pain. This type of mesothelioma is associated with significant abdominal pain, which can persist in a variety of circumstances.
• Decreased appetite.People with this type of mesothelioma also experience decreased appetite most of the time.
• Fluid buildup in the peritoneum.A doctor may be able to detect fluid buildup in the peritoneum, around the abdomen.

For pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the heart:

• Significant chest pain. Like with plural mesothelioma, this type of mesothelioma is associated with chest pain.
• Heart murmurs.You may also experience heart murmurs, or abnormal noises from the heart as it pumps blood less smoothly.
• Fluid buildup in the pericardium.A doctor may be able to detect fluid buildup in the pericardium, around the heart.

The Problem of Ambiguity

Cancer symptoms can sometimes be ambiguous, making it hard to tell whether you have a cancer like mesothelioma, or something more minor like a cold.

• Asbestos exposure. If you know you've been exposed to asbestos in the past, you need to take your potential mesothelioma symptoms more seriously. You're at much higher risk of developing this disease than other people.
• Number of symptoms. The more symptoms you have, the more confident you can be that something is wrong. Even if it's not mesothelioma, you should get it checked out.
• Severity of symptoms.Obviously, more severe symptoms should be treated more seriously. A mild cough may be nothing to be concerned about, but if coughing precludes you from living a normal life, you need medical attention.
• Unique symptoms.Pay especially close attention to symptoms that are unique to mesothelioma. For example, heart murmurs are not as common as night sweats in unaffected people.
• Totally unexplained symptoms.You should also take symptoms more seriously if they are totally unexplained. Weight loss may occur after a new exercise regimen. Shortness of breath can occur after intense physical activity. But if you have multiple symptoms with no explanation, you should seek medical guidance.

Why You Should See a Doctor ASAP

Even if your symptoms are mild or somewhat explainable, it's a good idea to see a doctor as soon as possible if there's even a remote possibility that your symptoms are associated with mesothelioma.

Here's why:

• There's no risk in visiting a doctor. Aside from paying a small fee, there's no real risk or downside to visiting a doctor. And if you don't have mesothelioma, you'll walk away with greater peace of mind.
• Doctors can analyze your symptoms effectively.You may know your body quite well, but you still aren't a medical professional. Doctors will be able to analyze your symptoms much more objectively and effectively.
• Early treatment is the most effective.  Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer is associated with much better outcomes. The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you'll get a diagnosis, and the sooner you can begin treatment.

Mesothelioma symptoms are sometimes hard to identify, and can be confused for symptoms of other diseases. But if you see multiple symptoms, or if you know you're at increased risk of developing mesothelioma, it's especially important to see a doctor right away.