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Early symptoms of mesothelioma are often misinterpreted as other common conditions, causing a delay in diagnosis and treatment. It also has a long latency period with the first appearance of symptoms 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.
The symptoms of mesothelioma vary with each stage and location (chest, abdomen, heart) of the disease. General symptoms of mesothelioma may include:
Pleural (lung) mesothelioma: Mesothelioma in the chest is the most common type representing 70% to 75% of all cases. Symptoms include:
Peritoneal (abdominal) mesothelioma: Peritoneal disease accounts for 10% to 20% of mesothelioma cases. In general, the prognosis for this tumor type is better. Symptoms include:
Pericardial (heart) Mesothelioma: A pericardial tumor is extremely rare. Symptoms include:
Testicular Mesothelioma: Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest form and develops in the lining of the testes. Symptoms include:
If you have one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean you have mesothelioma. However, it’s important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor as they may indicate other health problems.