Discuss Symptoms And Treatment Of Mesothelioma
Early symptoms of mesothelioma may mimic those of pneumonia:
- dyspnea
- cough
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- hypoxia
Symptoms worsen if fluid builds up in the pleural space causing a pleural effusion. Invasion of adjacent structures or metastasis to other parts of the body can occur, with symptoms depending on the structures or organs affected. Sometimes there are no symptoms and diagnosis occurs as a result of routine physical exams.
Treatment can consist of radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy but results have been disappointing. Clinical trials are underway to study other ways to fight this cancer and interested patients should consult with their doctor about participation in such trials. For now, palliative care with narcotic pain relief and supplemental oxygen for shortness of breath is frequently all that can be done. Fluid build-up is drained via thoracentesis or paracentesis.
