Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

Disease Overview

Pleural mesothelioma affects pleural membranes surrounding the lungs. It is often called as pleural malignant mesothelioma. This rare cancer is caused by a carcinogenic substance called asbestos. Formerly, this substance was often used in the plumbing materials, cooling or heating systems, insulation, building constructions, and some other household items. When someone suffers from this cancer, they will feel some signs and symptoms’.

Different people may experience different symptoms in the early stage. The symptoms can be seen in the change of physical appearance in the respiratory problems. The most common symptoms are presented below.

Respiratory problems

Respiratory disturbance occurs as pleural mesothelioma happens in the pleural membranes in the lungs. At first, the sufferers will feel a feeling of shortness or windedness breath. In the early stage, this condition will come only when doing physical exercises such as doing sport or moving things. But as time goes by, even when the sufferers are sleeping, this problem also happens and the frequency is getting more often. It may be accompanied by a pain in chest. In more serious condition, the pain can spread anywhere in the body where the cancerous cells have spread. This cancer will also cause a cough. It is almost the same as a cough happen to smokers. It may be very painful in the chest when the sufferers cough in the cancer is severe.

Physical change

Patients who suffer from cancer usually experience unexpected weight loss. People with mesothelioma and other advance cancers may wonder why they lose their weight although they have consumed a lot of food. Actually, the explanation of this is very clear. Cancerous cells need a large amount of calories to thrive. That is why although the patients consume food with a high calorie, it won’t be enough for their body. Even it helps the cancerous cells to grow. Therefore if people get cancer, they have to consult to doctors on what to eat and not to eat. Some medications are also given to prevent the growth of the cancerous cells.