What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
There are a variety of symptoms for mesothelioma, dependent on where the mesothelioma is located. The most common symptoms for pleural mesotheliomas (cancer of the lining of the lung) are difficulty in breathing/shortness of breath, pain under the rib cage, and a dry, hacking cough. These symptoms are caused by the excess fluid and build-up of tumor tissue in the pleural space surrounding the lungs. Less common symptoms may include weight loss for no reason, fever, night sweats and feeling easily fatigued.
The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma (cancer of lining of the abdomen) may include abdominal swelling and pain, weight loss, and a mass in the abdomen, all due to the accumulation of excess fluid and tissue building in the abdominal cavity. Additional symptoms include bowel obstruction, anemia (a lowered red blood cell count), fever, and blood clotting abnormalities.