Asbestos, a common material used in manufacturing in the early part of the 20^th century, can cause lung cancer and asbestos mesothelioma symptoms may arise many years after exposure.

When a person is exposed to asbestos as a young person, asbestos mesothelioma symptoms may not show up until the person is much older, delaying treatment options.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Symptoms

If you suspect you might be a victim of asbestos-caused mesothelioma, you should watch for certain asbestos mesothelioma symptoms.

Sometimes asbestos mesothelioma symptoms look just like the symptoms of other lung diseases. Symptoms like coughing, chest pain and breathing difficulty may seem unimportant to the average person. But these symptoms can unfortunately signify greater problems like asbestos-related lung cancers.

The most common asbestos mesothelioma symptoms are dry cough or wheezing, shortness of breath or trouble taking a deep breath, respiratory complications or pain in the chest or abdomen. Common symptoms also include fever, anemia, muscle weakness and pleural effusions, or a fluid build up between the lungs and chest.

There are also more severe asbestos mesothelioma symptoms. If lung cancer due to asbestos exposure is more advanced, symptoms like chest pain, weight loss and respiratory complications can occur.

There are four types of asbestos-related mesothelioma and each has its own asbestos mesothelioma symptoms. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common form of mesothelioma, is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Reduced chest expansion
• Harsh and faint breathing sounds
• Wheezing
• Coughing up blood
• Body aches

Another type of asbestos-related mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma. This occurs in the thick lining around the abdominal cavity. About 20 percent of mesothelioma cases are peritoneal. The asbestos mesothelioma symptoms for this type of cancer are:

• Weight loss
• Distention of the abdomen
• Hernias
• Appetite loss
• Feeling full or abdominal swelling and tenderness
• Fatigue
• Fluid buildup in the abdomen
• Bowel obstruction

The third type of mesothelioma is pericardial. This affects the lining of the heart and is very rare. The asbestos mesothelioma symptoms for this type of asbestos-related cancer are difficulty breathing and chest pains.

The fourth type of asbestos-related mesothelioma is testicular. This is the rarest of all types and accounts for less than 1% of diagnosed mesothelioma. The symptom for this type is a lump in the testes.

Because asbestos mesothelioma symptoms often do not occur until years after asbestos exposure, cancer is many times not caught until it is in stage III or stage IV.

It has been found that asbestos mesothelioma symptoms sometimes do not become noticeable until 20 to 50 years after exposure. By then, it is possible that the cancer has developed to the point that it has begun to spread. Often, by this point, treatment options are limited and chance of death is increased exponentially.

If it has spread, the following asbestos mesothelioma symptoms may emerge:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Superior Vena Cava syndrome (the blockage of the Superior Vena Cava)
• Hoarseness
• Horner’s syndrome (nerve damage in the face)
• Hypoglycemia

If you believe you are suffering from asbestos mesothelioma symptoms, tell your doctor about your symptoms and your asbestos exposure. You may be entitled to legal compensation.