Asbestos Cancer Symptoms
Over the years, asbestos has been used in many building materials for insulation purposes. People exposed to asbestos are at risk for cancer, especially people that have worked in construction, demolition, ship building, insulation, asbestos removal and many other industries. The main form of asbestos cancer is mesothelioma.
Asbestos cancer symptoms in the form of pleural mesothelioma, found in the lungs include:
1. Shortness of breath – Fluid build up between the lung and the chest wall may cause shortness of
breath.
2. Side chest pain – This may indicate a build-up of pleural fluid.
3. Low back pain – The back pain will often worsen when the patient takes a deep breath. Pleural fluid
is often the culprit with low back pain in asbestos cancer symptoms.
4. Difficulty swallowing, persistent cough and coughing up blood – In rare cases undiagnosed asbestos
patients may exhibit these symptoms.
5. Facial and arm swelling – Swelling of the face and arms may be a sign that the asbestos cancer is
spreading.
6. Fever – The degree of the fever may not be an indication of the seriousness of the underlying
problem.
7. Weight loss – Significant or persistent unexplained weight loss may be an asbestos cancer symptom.
8. Fatigue – Asbestos cancer symptoms include fatigue, which can be defined as tiredness or
exhaustion.
9. Other symptoms may include muscle weakness, loss of sensory abilities and night sweats.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by the ingestion of asbestos into the gastrointestinal tract. Asbestos cancer symptoms found in the periotoneum are:
1. Abdominal pain – Cancerous cells kill off the healthy cells which turn into tumors. If the tumors press
on the surrounding organs the patient may experience pain.
2. Abdominal swelling – The presence of fluid build-up in the abdomen may cause swelling.
3. Weight loss, nausea and vomiting – Weight loss may weaken the mesothelioma patient. It is usually
due to bowel obstruction and pressure from tumors.
Asbestos cancer affecting the heart is referred to as pericardial mesothelioma. It may not initially affect the lungs, but may spread from the heart to the lungs. Asbestos cancer symptoms found in the pericardial region include:
1. Chest pain – Persistent chest pain is the most common symptom in pericardial mesothelioma
because as the cancer spreads it prohibits the pumping of blood and compresses the chest.
2. Shortness of breath – While shortness of breath may be a sign of pericardial mesothelioma, this
symptom may also be a sign that it has spread to the lungs. This is a sign that the lungs are not
functioning well.
3. Heart palpitations – An irregular, rapid or strong heartbeat is known as heart palpitations.
Records indicate the asbestos industry had knowledge of the dangers of asbestos since 1934. The cost of treatment to lengthen life expectancy for an asbestos cancer patient can be exorbitant. You may take action on behalf of yourself or a family member to receive compensation by completing the form on this page.
