What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma may not cause any symptoms until it is more advanced, and the tumor has grown enough to affect the tissues and organs near it. Symptoms also vary depending on where the tumor is located.
The most common symptoms associated with pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath, pain in the side of the chest or lower back pain, dry and persistent cough and problems swallowing or the feeling of having something stuck in your throat. You may also experience swelling in your face and arms or unexplained weight loss.
If the tumor is in the abdomen (peritoneum) symptoms include swelling and pain of the abdomen, constipation, nausea, vomiting and blockage of the small intestine.
Regardless of where the cancer originated, most patients suffering from mesothelioma will have fatigue, fever and weight loss from a loss of appetite.
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
How Mesothelioma Is Diagnosed
Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.
Page last updated: October 30, 2024