{"id":5624,"date":"2019-04-15T03:23:18","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T03:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5624"},"modified":"2021-03-30T19:33:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T19:33:33","slug":"14-early-warning-signs-of-mesothelioma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-early-warning-signs-of-mesothelioma\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Early Warning Signs of Mesothelioma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A horrific type of cancer that develops in the thin lining that covers many of the body\u2019s vital internal organs, mesothelioma is a condition that is usually directly connected to previous exposure to asbestos. The tiny fibers can become lodged in the lungs, where they remain, unnoticed and silently causing irreparable damage for decades.
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The condition mainly affects the lining of the lungs, but the stomach, heart, and testicles can also be affected. A growing number of people are diagnosed with the condition year on year, a testament to the long term implications of asbestos exposure and poisoning.
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People between the ages of 60 and 80 are most likely to develop the condition and it is typically men who are more likely to suffer. The prognosis once a diagnosis of mesothelioma has been established is not good, as it\u2019s rarely possible to cure someone of the illness. Treatment is able to help with the symptoms though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     Dry cough or wheezing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Where there is the presence of dry cough or wheezing symptoms, a range of different tests may be suggested and carried out in order to assess for mesothelioma. These tests might include X-rays to give a clearer picture of what might be happening in the chest or the stomach, and CT scans which give a much more detailed picture of what is happening throughout the whole body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coughs <\/a>and wheezes are common occurrences for older people, with different viruses regularly doing the rounds in wintertime, and nasty habits like smoking playing their part, and so this early warning sign can sometimes be scooted over somewhat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where a cough is persistent and unproductive for an extended period, it can sometimes rely on the intervention of a caring (or annoyed) relative, taking it upon themselves to try and get to the bottom of what has been causing that cough to remain loud and proud for such a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.     Shortness of breath (dyspnea)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now shortness of breath may not seem like something that is worth raising the alarm for, however regularly experiencing unexplained episodes of breathlessness could well be cause for concern, particularly in older people. Individuals of a certain age may well remember working with asbestos <\/a>in their earlier lives and careers, as unfortunate as that is, but even though this may cause some nervousness and trepidation, the best thing to do is to seek advice as early as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is difficult to catch mesothelioma in its infancy, as it as a process sometimes twenty years in the making, however, as with every type of cancer, time is always of the essence. Days and months can make all the difference when they\u2019re all you have left. Finding oneself almost suddenly unable to do things like walk to the store, or pick up toys after the grandkids can make someone start to wonder. If cancer is on your mind, ask as many questions as you like, but make sure they aren\u2019t just in your head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3.     Respiratory complications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Difficulty breathing can be a very distressing symptom for someone to go through, no matter the cause, and so when mesothelioma is suspected the sense of despair is added to. Family members and friends can find this early warning sign fairly traumatic to bear witness to, as the affected person can look as though they are gasping for air or choking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue discoloration may also occur. As mentioned earlier, the outlook for patients with mesothelioma tends to be negative, as cancer <\/a>doesn’t normally cause any obvious symptoms until it is far too late. Once a person is suffering from respiratory complications due to mesothelioma, cancer can progress very quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radiotherapy, which uses high energy radiation in an attempt to kill off, may be fairly successful in slowing the pace of cancer, and it is certainly worth trying, even just to help a patient get their breathing back under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4.     Pain in the chest or abdomen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stomach pain or mid-chest pain can be ignored for such a long time, usually in the hope that it\u2019ll go away. Some cancer patients even admit that they had learned to live with symptoms <\/a>that they knew just weren’t right. As cheesy as it sounds, you really do need to trust your gut and then get it off your chest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any delays with seeking diagnosis and treatment will only serve to fuel the rate at which cancer progresses, should these pain symptoms be caused by mesothelioma that is. There are investigative options which can help to determine the cause of the pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laparoscopy is where the inside of the chest or abdomen is looked at in great detail, through a camera that gains access via a long thin cable, inserted through a tiny incision, with the patient under anesthetic. During this investigation, samples of tissue may be removed for analysis in a laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5.     Fever or night sweats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When asked what the first thing they would like to do having entered remission was, one study found that \u2018get a good night’s sleep’ was an especially high ranking answer. This is because difficulty sleeping is a common problem for many cancer patients. This problem can often begin long before diagnosis made, or even before advice is sought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of mesothelioma, night time fevers and episodes of profuse night sweats can be indicators of the disease starting to make progress. Once a diagnosis has been given, the mental toll of coping with the diagnosis can interrupt sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make matters even worse, any subsequent treatment such as chemotherapy <\/a>or radiotherapy can affect a person’s sleep. Fatigue and tiredness do not always come hand in hand with plenty of sleep. If someone is experiencing difficulty sleeping due to fever or night sweats, medical attention should be sought and a detailed list of any other symptoms written up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6.     Pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fluid developing around the lungs is something which is a typical problem associated with mesothelioma. As grim as it sounds, most people develop fluid on the lungs <\/a>at some point in their lives. For most people though, this is a harmless by-product of a small illness. When this symptom occurs in full force though, it is more of a red flashing light than an early warning sign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fluid on or around the lungs can be very dangerous, as mesothelioma patients will attest to. In the treatment stages of mesothelioma, fluid may need to be drained from the lungs, especially if there has been a build-up. Using a needle to take a sample of the fluid may be carried out, in order to assess whether mesothelioma is suspected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of fluid drainage for mesothelioma patients are very important, as removing excess fluid by draining can help a person with their breathing. Occasionally, a procedure may be undertaken with the desired result being that the fluid doesn\u2019t come back again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7.     Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fatigue <\/a>can be an early warning sign of a million and one different illnesses and on its own, it is rarely an indicator of any kind of cancer. Viewing fatigue as such would create a worldwide health scare of monumental proportions, as most people feel fatigued from time to time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fatigue is something that extends beyond someone simply feeling tired. It can cause a person to be a physically unable function, rather than just choosing not to. If someone between 60 and 80 is feeling fatigued, you might say that that is par for the course, however, if said person is known to have a history of working with asbestos, it could be an early warning sign of mesothelioma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This warning sign is most commonly of use in older people who still live relatively active lifestyles, but again, due to the widely understood impacts of aging, which include slowing down and feeling increasingly tired, this early warning sign can, unfortunately, be missed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.     Muscle weakness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If fluid on the lungs is a red flashing light of an early warning sign, muscle weakness is a small flag, waving half-heartedly in the distance. Much like fatigue, muscle weakness is a difficult symptom to attribute to mesothelioma<\/a>, given the sheer number of things that can be caused by. Overexertion at the gym, at work or when exercising can cause muscle weakness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A poor diet can be responsible for muscle weakness, as can a poor fitness regime. We’re not necessarily talking about muscle pain being present at the same time here, just that the muscles don’t seem to want to work in the way they should. Like all of the symptoms highlighted here, this is a potential early warning sign of mesothelioma, not a guaranteed determiner. Using this list as a checklist of symptoms could be useful, but there are some which are much more worrying in isolation than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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