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Overview
Mesothelioma is the name given to cancer of the mesothelium that causes the cells divide without any order or control. These cancerous cells can then damage tissue and organs that are proximate to the mesothelium. In almost all cases, mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. For this reason, it is important for anyone who has ever been exposed to asbestos or believes they have been exposed to be aware of the warning signs of this disease.
Breathlessness
One of the earliest possible signs of the development of mesothelioma is a sudden shortness of breath after exercise. If you have always been able to walk up a flight of stairs, take a stroll around the block or swim a few laps in the pool without experiencing difficulty breathing afterward, this may be an early warning sign.
Chest Pain
Chest pain can be a symptom of a whole host of medical problems, but when combined with breathlessness that has not been experienced before, chest pain can be a sign of mesothelioma. Any serious chest pain should be a signal to visit the doctor, but if you have been exposed to asbestos, take any chest pain seriously as a possible warning sign.
Sleep Problems
Insomnia or just a sudden noticeable change in sleeping patterns is also an early warning sign. At first, it may seem as though you are simply tired because didn't sleep well during the night, but if the condition becomes chronic, it is advisable to discuss your sleeping difficulties with your doctor. Let him know whether you have or suspect you may have come into contact with asbestos.
Persistent Cough
Because the disease is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers that get embedded in the lung, one of the most predominant signs of mesothelioma is a chronic cough. The cough will more than likely be expressed as a wheezing cough that may be accompanied by hoarseness.
Weight Loss
Sudden, unplanned and unexplained weight loss is always a warning sign that something is wrong and should be taken seriously. Weight loss in concert with any combination of the above symptoms is clearly a signal that a medical examination is in order to test for mesothelioma.
Abdominal Pains
Any unexplained stomach pains, or a change in your regular digestive patterns, could be taken as a warning sign of mesothelioma. These stomach pains are likely to accompany weight loss, as the disease has the ability to affect the way your body absorbs nutrients.
Prevention/Solution
Any one of these warning signs is enough to warrant a preventative trip to the doctor if you are sure you have been exposed to asbestos. If you experience any combination of two or more of these symptoms, it certainly is highly recommended that you visit a physician. Even if you only suspect that you were somehow exposed to asbestos and you exhibit one more of these symptoms that cannot be adequately explained away, it is still a good idea to get a physician's professional opinion rather than wait to see if further symptoms develop.
