Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer that only shows symptoms decades after exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms become noticeable, the disease has progressed to an advanced state. While mesothelioma can be treated, the survival rate after diagnosis is typically four to 18 months. However, some people have lived more than 10 years after being diagnosed.
While there are many factors that contribute to a person’s individual prognosis, one of the most important elements is getting a proper diagnosis as early as possible. This isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be mistaken for pneumonia, which causes many primary care physicians to misdiagnose their patients. It’s not entirely their fault, either. They aren’t mesothelioma specialists and most wouldn’t have any reason to believe that’s what a patient is dealing with. However, not catching this disease fast can shorten your survival time.
Mesothelioma is rare but serious.
According to the CDC, between 1999 and 2018, a total of 48,073 cases of mesothelioma were reported, although each year the number of diagnoses decreases. There are just under a few thousand people diagnosed yearly. For example, in 2018, there were 2,875 cases of mesothelioma reported in the United States.
Although it’s considered a rare cancer, mesothelioma is serious and requires immediate medical intervention.
If you think you might have mesothelioma, see a specialist.
If you’ve been feeling ill for a while and your doctor either doesn’t know what’s wrong or you’re convinced it’s something more than what you’ve been diagnosed with, see if your symptoms match the symptoms of mesothelioma. If they do, even if you don’t remember being exposed to asbestos earlier in life, see a specialist right away. Not everyone knows they’ve been exposed, but there are industries that carry a substantial risk of exposure.
The 3 main types of mesothelioma
Although all types result in tumors, there are three main forms of mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma: This type occurs in the stomach and impacts the stomach lining (the peritoneum).
Pericardial mesothelioma: This type is found in the heart, specifically impacting the pericardium.
Pleural mesothelioma: This type occurs in the chest and impacts the lining of the lungs (the pleura).
Symptoms of mesothelioma
The main symptom of mesothelioma is fluid build-up wherever the tumor exists. This typically occurs in the lungs, heart, or stomach, but in rare cases, it can also be in the testicles.
Additional symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Persistent coughing
- Chest pain
- Heart murmurs
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
As you can see, these symptoms mimic pneumonia, and at first glance, it’s easy for general care doctors to misdiagnose a mesothelioma patient. That’s why it’s vital that you don’t accept your diagnosis if you feel like it’s not right. Always seek additional opinions from specialists. If you go to another doctor, they’ll probably confirm your pneumonia diagnosis, and you won’t get anywhere. You must see a specialist to either confirm or rule out mesothelioma.
As mesothelioma advances, other symptoms appear that don’t always overlap with pneumonia. If you’ve been dealing with the above symptoms for a while and you’re starting to notice other symptoms, it’s time to see a specialist to get a clear diagnosis. It might not be mesothelioma, but if there’s any possibility it is, don’t skip the specialist visit because time is of the essence in terms of your treatment.
Industries that expose workers to asbestos
If you’re trying to figure out whether or not you’ve actually been exposed to asbestos, or if you know you have, but don’t know where, it may have been from your place of employment. The following industries are known for occupational asbestos exposure.
- Auto mechanics
- Construction workers
- Firefighters
- DIY home renovators
- Industrial workers
- Military personnel
- Boiler workers
- Aircraft mechanics
Treatments for mesothelioma
If you get diagnosed with mesothelioma, there are several treatment options and your doctor will advise you on which is best for your situation.
Chemotherapy: This treatment aims to shrink or kill the cancer.
Surgery: A standard for cancer treatment, surgery removes the cancerous tumors.
Radiation therapy: This form of therapy uses powerful rays to kill the cancer.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is designed to help boost the immune system.
Targeted therapy: This consists of specific medicines that prevent the cancer from growing.
In addition to the above standard treatments, new treatments are often tested in clinical trials, and you might be able to participate with your doctor’s permission.
Don’t wait to get checked out
Regardless of how long you’ve been feeling under the weather, don’t wait to get checked out by a specialist. If you have mesothelioma, you’ll be better positioned to seek treatment.
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