Mesothelioma Symptoms

It often is difficult to diagnose malignant mesothelioma. Because it is an uncommon form of cancer, many doctors, particularly those who are not cancer specialists, are not familiar with mesothelioma.

Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma are not very different from those associated with other health problems. Also, in its early stages some patients experience no symptoms at all.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma cancer of the lung lining) include:

- pain in the lower back or the side of the chest
- chest pain under the rib cage
- unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on the chest
- shortness of breath
- a dry persistent cough
- difficulty swallowing food
- fever and sweating
- fatigue
- abdominal swelling
- abdominal pain
- unexplained weight loss
- a change in the bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation
- lumps of tissue in the abdomen

These symptoms are also common to many minor ailments and, therefore, may not cause a doctor to suspect mesothelioma.

-Pleural Effusion
-Fluid in the lungs

One of the most common and specific symptoms of pleural mesothelioma is the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and chest cavity. This generally causes shortness of breath, and requires a doctor to drain the fluid, called fine-needle aspiration, to make breathing easier and relieve chest pain. This symptom is more unique to mesothelioma, making it more likely that you may have the disease.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma (mesothelioma cancer of the lining that surrounds the stomach or abdomin) include:


Symptoms include:
- stomach pain
- nausea and vomiting
- weight loss
- abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include:

- bowel obstruction
- blood clotting abnormalities
- anemia
- fever.


Pericardial Mesothelioma

Some of the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma (mesothelioma cancer of the lining that surrounds the stomach or heart) include:

- dyspnea
- cough
- chest pain
- orthopnea (discomfort with breathing while lying flat)

Other symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma may include:

- upper abdominal distention or pressure
- hiccups due to pressure on the diaphragm
- pleuritic pain due to stretching of the pericardium
- increased distention of jugular veins with inspiration
- rapid diastolic descent of the venous pulse
- decrease of more than 10 mm Hg in the diastolic pressure on inspiration

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma cancer that has spread to other parts of the body include:

  • Pain in the area where cancer has spread
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Swelling in the neck and face

Like pleural mesothelioma, these symptoms are also common to many minor ailments and, therefore, may not cause a doctor to suspect mesothelioma.