How to Detect Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cells

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lungs primarily caused by asbestos exposure. Reading this article will teach you how to detect mesothelioma.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pay attention to pleural mesothelioma. The pleural cavity is a body cavity that contains the lungs. Mesothelioma will often attack the pleural cavity first (because it is a type of lung cancer). Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include: shortness of breath, fluid around your lungs, fatigue and wheezing. If you start experiencing these symptoms, you should immediately let your doctor know so that you can undergo treatment.

2. Pay attention to tumors that develop in the abdominal cavity. If this cancer spreads any before it is caught, it will usually spread to the abdominal cavity first. If you have a tumor developing in your abdomen, you may experience the following symptoms: abdominal pain, fluid in the abdomen, weight loss, problems with bowel function and a mass in the abdomen. If you start noticing these symptoms you need to alert your doctor immediately to start treatment and prevent any further spreading of the cancer.

3. Notice symptoms in the late stages of the disease. In the more progressed stages, there is not much you can do for any cancer that goes untreated for this long. If your mesothelioma has progressed to the final stages you may experience the following symptoms: blood clots, severe bleeding in some organs, jaundice, low blood sugar and pulmonary embolism (most common symptom). You should let your doctor know of your symptoms (especially at this stage) so that he/she can begin removing as much of the cancer as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• It is important to know that mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure and if you are exposed to asbestos dust in your work place, you may have a claim with many law offices. If you develop mesothelioma, contact medical attention and legal help right away.

Resources

• About.com