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Mesothelioma Effects

Mesothelioma is a rare, often-fatal cancer in the tissue (mesothelium) that lines the stomach, lungs, heart and other organs. Most people who have mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos fibers more than 20 years prior to showing symptoms. It usually starts in the lungs, but it can originate in other organs, according to the National Cancer Institute. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are reported in the United States each year, according to MesotheliomaTreatmentCenters.org.

  1. Effects of Pleural Mesothelioma

    • According to the American Cancer Society, the effects of pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the chest) range from back pain to shortness of breath. The effects include many symptoms that could indicate other health problems, including cough, fever, sweating, fatigue, muscle weakness and weight loss. Other signs of pleural mesothelioma include trouble swallowing or hoarseness and swelling of the arms or face.

    Effects of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

    • The effects of peritoneal mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the abdomen) include pain in that area, swelling or fluid retention in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss. Sometimes mesothelioma can develop lower than the abdomen and appear to be a hernia in the groin area, reports the American Cancer Society.

    Death

    • MesotheliomaTreatmentCenters.org reports that the five-year survival rate for people who were diagnosed with mesothelioma between 1998 and 2002 was 9 percent. Despite several treatment options, mesothelioma remains a deadly cancer. Various factors influence patients' survival rates, including how advanced the cancer is when it is diagnosed; whether it is new or a reoccurrence of the disease; the type and size of the growth; whether surgeons can remove the cancerous cells; and individual characteristics, such as age and overall health.

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