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What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma symptoms vary based on the condition’s location and stage. The most common symptoms include fatigue, chest or abdominal pain, respiratory issues and fluid buildup. However, you may not experience any symptoms at all.

It’s also important to know that some signs of mesothelioma can resemble other conditions, so if you have any persistent symptoms, consult your doctor.

Learn more about the different symptoms:

What are the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma?

Originating in the lungs, pleural mesothelioma symptoms are often in the chest or respiratory system. However, you may have symptoms that affect your whole body too. These typically develop very slowly—over 10 to 50 years—so it’s common for pleural mesothelioma symptoms to be mistaken for other lung conditions, like bronchitis, flu, lung cancer or pneumonia.

  • Asbestosis

    Asbestosis is a non-cancerous lung condition that causes scarring in the lungs. This scar tissue can make breathing harder.

  • Common pleural mesothelioma symptoms

    The majority of cases of pleural mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos, so it’s possible to have symptoms of mesothelioma along with side effects of another asbestos-related condition.

    Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include:

    • Shortness of breath
    • Fluid in the lungs
    • Fatigue
    • Back or rib pain
    • Chest pain
    • Dry cough
    • Hoarseness
    • Face or arm swelling
    • Weight loss
    • Night sweats
    • Trouble swallowing
  • Pleural effusion

    Pleural effusion occurs when fluid builds up between the membranes surrounding the lungs, called the pleura. Although a little fluid is normal in the pleura, pleural effusion is excess fluid. When this happens, it can lead to shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

  • Pleural plaques

    With pleural mesothelioma, it’s also possible to develop spots of thickened tissue in the membranes that line the lungs, called pleural plaques.

  • Pleural thickening

    Many people with pleural mesothelioma have scar tissue that causes the lining around the lungs to thicken. This makes the membranes less flexible and makes it harder for the lungs to expand as they should.

What are the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma?

Peritoneal mesothelioma, affecting the abdomen's lining, may cause symptoms such as stomach pain and swelling. It's common for this type of cancer to be mistaken for chronic conditions that affect the digestive system, such as Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Common peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms

As peritoneal mesothelioma progresses, it can cause a variety of symptoms in the abdomen, such as:

  • Ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen)
  • Swollen belly
  • Stomach or abdomen pain
  • Loss of appetite or feeling full
  • Nausea
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Intestinal or bowel obstruction
  • Constipation

What are the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma?

This type of mesothelioma starts in the lining surrounding the heart, called the pericardium, so symptoms are most often in the heart and chest. Pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare type of cancer, so other conditions are usually considered first when symptoms appear. It may be mistaken for coronary artery disease or heart failure.

Common pericardial mesothelioma symptoms

Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma usually begin when the lining around the heart starts to become thick, affecting its ability to pump as it should. These symptoms may include:

  • Pericardial effusion (fluid buildup)
  • Chest pain
  • Difficult breathing
  • Heart palpitations
  • Irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia
  • Fatigue
  • Swelling in the legs
  • Pain in the right shoulder
  • Trouble swallowing

What are the symptoms of testicular mesothelioma?

Testicular mesothelioma, an extremely rare condition, has symptoms primarily in the groin area, including pain and swelling. This mesothelioma begins in the lining around the testes and may be mistaken for other conditions, including epididymitis.

Common testicular mesothelioma symptoms

Testicular mesothelioma can cause symptoms similar to other conditions that affect the testes. Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Swollen testes and scrotum
  • Solid lump in the scrotum
  • Testicular pain
  • Fluid buildup in the scrotum, called hydrocele
  • A fluid-filled cyst in the epididymis, called spermatocele

Early and late-stage symptoms of mesothelioma

The wide range of symptoms in the early and late stages of mesothelioma means it’s important to listen to your body and let your doctor know if something feels off.

Early symptoms of mesothelioma (stages 1 and 2)

After asbestos exposure, it may be years or even decades before early symptoms of mesothelioma appear. If the cancer hasn’t spread extensively in stages 1 and 2, these symptoms could be mild. It’s also possible to not have any symptoms at all.

Early-stage mesothelioma symptoms:

  • Fluid in the area where cancer started
  • Fatigue
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Chest, lower back or rib pain
  • Coughing
  • Digestive changes

Late-stage symptoms of mesothelioma (stages 3 and 4)

In stages 3 and 4 of mesothelioma, the cancer cells have started to spread. When this happens, symptoms may be more noticeable and affect other areas of the body.

Late-stage mesothelioma symptoms may include:

  • Persistent abdominal or chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Fluid buildup
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Reduced appetite and weight loss
  • Respiratory problems

When should I see a doctor for symptoms of mesothelioma?

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos in the past, it’s especially important for you to pay attention to any warning signs of mesothelioma. If you notice ongoing symptoms—vague or mild—visit your doctor.

If you haven’t been exposed to asbestos, symptoms like ongoing abdominal pain, chest pain or trouble breathing are signs you need care. They could be caused by mesothelioma or one of many other conditions. A visit to the doctor is the best way to find out the cause of your symptoms and get the treatment you need.

Treating mesothelioma symptoms

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Treatment options for mesothelioma depend on the cancer type. Surgery, chemotherapy or radiation may be considered in the early stages. In other cases, your treatment plan will focus on managing your symptoms and improving your quality of life with the condition.

Our care teams are often involved in researching new ways to treat mesothelioma. You may have access to a clinical trial, so speak with your doctor to explore your options.

  • Therapeutic treatments

    Therapeutic treatments

    For those living with mesothelioma, therapeutic treatments are used to remove or destroy cancer cells. Often, you’ll have access to more than one of these treatments as part of your care plan.

    • Surgery: Several different surgical options are used in mesothelioma to remove areas of cancer and relieve symptoms. The right surgery for you depends on where the tumor is located and if it has spread.
      • Pneumonectomy is a surgery used to treat pleural mesothelioma. It removes the affected lung and part of the pleura on one side of the body, along with part of the diaphragm, nearby lymph nodes and the lining around the heart.
      • Pleurodesis is a surgical procedure that stops fluid from building around the lungs. It uses chemicals to create scar tissue in the pleura and close the space between the chest wall and the lungs, preventing this buildup.
    • Chemotherapy: In earlier stages of mesothelioma, chemotherapy drugs are used to destroy cancer cells together with other treatments, such as surgery. In later stages, chemotherapy may be one of the main therapeutic options.
    • Radiation: Radiation therapy is used in mesothelioma to both destroy cancer cells and reduce symptoms. The most common radiation therapy for mesothelioma is external beam radiation, which uses high-energy beams to target cancer. Another option is brachytherapy, which places small amounts of radioactive materials inside the body.
    • Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors are a common type of immunotherapy for mesothelioma. These inhibitors block specific proteins in cancer cells, allowing the immune system to recognize the cells as cancer and attack them.
  • Palliative treatments

    Palliative treatments

    The goal of palliative care is to alleviate pain, reduce symptoms and improve your well-being. You can continue to have treatments like chemotherapy or radiation along with palliative treatment options.

    Palliative treatment plans may include procedures to remove fluid buildup, medications, respiratory therapy, physical or occupational therapy and pain management techniques.

    Procedures aimed at reducing the symptoms caused by fluid buildup include:

    • Pericardiocentesis removes fluid around the heart
    • Paracentesis removes fluid in the abdomen
    • Thoracentesis removes fluid around the lungs
    • Pleurodesis removes the space between the lungs and chest wall, which prevents fluid from collecting there
  • Alternative treatments

    Alternative treatments

    Alternative treatments work along with your therapeutic and palliative treatments to relieve pain, boost healing and reduce stress. Some alternative treatments you could choose to include in your mesothelioma care include:

Therapeutic treatments

For those living with mesothelioma, therapeutic treatments are used to remove or destroy cancer cells. Often, you’ll have access to more than one of these treatments as part of your care plan.

  • Surgery: Several different surgical options are used in mesothelioma to remove areas of cancer and relieve symptoms. The right surgery for you depends on where the tumor is located and if it has spread.
    • Pneumonectomy is a surgery used to treat pleural mesothelioma. It removes the affected lung and part of the pleura on one side of the body, along with part of the diaphragm, nearby lymph nodes and the lining around the heart.
    • Pleurodesis is a surgical procedure that stops fluid from building around the lungs. It uses chemicals to create scar tissue in the pleura and close the space between the chest wall and the lungs, preventing this buildup.
  • Chemotherapy: In earlier stages of mesothelioma, chemotherapy drugs are used to destroy cancer cells together with other treatments, such as surgery. In later stages, chemotherapy may be one of the main therapeutic options.
  • Radiation: Radiation therapy is used in mesothelioma to both destroy cancer cells and reduce symptoms. The most common radiation therapy for mesothelioma is external beam radiation, which uses high-energy beams to target cancer. Another option is brachytherapy, which places small amounts of radioactive materials inside the body.
  • Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors are a common type of immunotherapy for mesothelioma. These inhibitors block specific proteins in cancer cells, allowing the immune system to recognize the cells as cancer and attack them.

Palliative treatments

The goal of palliative care is to alleviate pain, reduce symptoms and improve your well-being. You can continue to have treatments like chemotherapy or radiation along with palliative treatment options.

Palliative treatment plans may include procedures to remove fluid buildup, medications, respiratory therapy, physical or occupational therapy and pain management techniques.

Procedures aimed at reducing the symptoms caused by fluid buildup include:

  • Pericardiocentesis removes fluid around the heart
  • Paracentesis removes fluid in the abdomen
  • Thoracentesis removes fluid around the lungs
  • Pleurodesis removes the space between the lungs and chest wall, which prevents fluid from collecting there

Alternative treatments

Alternative treatments work along with your therapeutic and palliative treatments to relieve pain, boost healing and reduce stress. Some alternative treatments you could choose to include in your mesothelioma care include:

Finding support

Our team supports you as you navigate mesothelioma symptoms and care. Connect with our programs and resources for the tools you need throughout your cancer journey.

Finding specialized mesothelioma cancer care

We help you get care at a location that fits your needs. We offer several locations for your care, including specialized cancer treatment centers in North and Central Texas.