Symptoms of mesothelioma only become visible in a span of thirty to forty years later. This makes this disease so hard to diagnose. It is also difficult to apply appropriate treatment that is supposed to be taking effect at an early stage. And even though the symptoms appear after a number of decades, the symptoms may seem so general and non-specific that they can be mistaken for other common diseases such as pneumonia, which shares the same symptoms during the early stages of the development of the disease.

One type of mesothelioma that is the most common is the pleuramesoteliom. This kind is characterized by shortness of breath and chest pains which is accompanied by a recurring cough. The symptoms are all caused by pleural effusion or the building up of fluid in between the lining of the lungs and the thorax. It starts in the chest cavity and flows to the other parts of the body. Patients who are experiencing these symptoms may also start to have difficulty in breathing, fever, trouble swallowing, swelling of the face and neck and weight loss. There are also patients who develop a rasping voice and cough blood while there are also patients who show no symptoms at all.


Another type of this disease is the peritoneal mesoteliom which is quite rare and a little different. It begins in the abdomen and spreads from there. It involves abdominal pains, difficulty breathing, chest pains, lack of food appetite, nausea, swelling and vomiting. These are all caused by the tumours that lean against the walls of the abdomen. Other signs include anemia and problems with blood clotting, fever, and intestinal obstruction which may affect peritoneal mesothelioma patients.

Pericardial mesoteliom is the rarest kind of this disease where it begins in the cavity around the heart. The tumours develop in the tissues surrounding the heart and spread from there. Its symptoms involve chest pains, palpitations, persistent coughing, and shortness of breath.

As each stage passes by, the symptoms of mesothelioma begin to appear, making them more acute and obvious. There are still possibilities that may cause them to be mistaken for other illnesses so it is important to consult the doctor right away if there has been an exposure to asbestos in the past or in the present time. This way, the doctor can make a clear and reliable diagnosis rather than just guess work. Also, ignoring these asbestos exposure symptoms can only worsen the case so it is a must to visit the doctor if any of the symptoms arise. It is greatly possible to acquire this disease unintentionally, even via the clothes of someone who has asbestos.

Being aware of these types and symptoms of mesothelioma is important, especially to those people who work in places where asbestos is highly exposed. It is so good that people are such as professionals and laymen are beginning to become aware of the nature and effects of mesothelioma. This gives the mesothelioma victims hope that someday ongoing clinical studies will find a cure for this.