According to the statistics for 1994 – 2008, there are 14 200 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed every year, and each fifth mesothelioma case is overlooked due to the complicated symptom picture. The USA is the leading country for the number of patients with such diagnosis, followed by the UK. The problem with mesothelioma is that it shows symptoms too late, while being developed in the body for 20-40 and sometimes even more years. Average mesothelioma symptoms can be taken for tiredness, smoking by-effects or cold, and patients usually don’t go to the hospital until getting severe complications. Being detected on late stages, this disease hardly responds to treatment. That is why knowing the symptoms and being attentive to health may help every person to overcome this dangerous type of cancer.

First of all it’s important to know the reason. Mesothelioma is a tumor developing from mesothelium cells of pleura, abdominal membrane or pericard. The scientists have discovered the major reason for its development. It is asbestos exposure. After the danger of asbestos fibers was approved, its mining and using was strictly limited in all over the world. However, the character of mesothelioma, its extremely long latent time result in growing number of cases nowadays, 40 years after the prohibition of contact with asbestos in big concentration. The problem was solved for the next generations only.

There are two major kinds of mesothelioma – pleural and peritoneal. The first one develops in the chest, and the second one – in the abdomen. On early stages there are no specific symptoms of mesothelioma. Usually they appear only when the tumor grows to the size that presses on other organs or nerves, and patient experiences discomfort or problems with organ’s functioning. There are no mesothelioma-specific symptoms that may help to detect the illness on early stages. There are symptoms that can be typical for a variety of other diseases. The only way not to miss mesothelioma is to consult a doctor if experiencing even one of them.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include pains in chest or lower-back. Very often the disease is accompanied with pleurisy, an inflammation of pleura with high temperature, sweating and excess liquid in pleura. A patient may experience various problems with breathing and cough that is not relieved by anti-cold medicines. This cancer often causes body weight loss. If a person loses more than 10% of weight without diet nutrition, it’s time to see a doctor. Chances in voice also can be a signal of mesothelioma (the voice becomes husky). An uncommon symptom that may be experienced during mesothelioma development is the change of fingers and nails shape – fingers clubbing.

Peritoneal mesothelioma also has pain symptoms, but in this case the source of pain is in abdomen. A patient may experience tummy swelling and sickness. Low appetite, and body weight loss as a result of it, diarrhea and other digestion problems can point at mesothelioma.

If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor. There is no need to visit an oncologist or other doctor with narrow specialization. The first tests can be made by a family doctor. The initial examination includes general health questions, physical exam to detect the swelling area or sources of pain, as well as the symptoms of fluid collection. If the doctor suspects some serious problem that potentially can be mesothelioma, further X-Ray, blood tests will be prescribed.

The earlier mesothelioma is detected, the more chances to fight the disease a patient has. That is why the first and the most important role in examining this disease belongs to a patient himself. Attentiveness to your own health and feeling will help to detect the first symptoms of mesothelioma and begin treatment at once.