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Because other diseases can cause similar symptoms, mesothelioma often is not diagnosed until it has spread. Symptoms vary from person to person. Many are caused by fluid building up in the chest (known as pleural effusion) and/or the tumor pressing on the lungs.

Common symptoms of mesothelioma include:

• Shortness of breath
• Constant, uninterrupted chest or abdominal pain
• Fatigue
• Collapsed lung
• Frequent buildup of fluid around the lungs, called pleural effusions

Less common symptoms include:

• Persistent coughing
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blood in sputum (phlegm) coughed up from the lungs
• Difficulty swallowing
• Prolonged hoarseness
• Nausea
• Low oxygen levels

Conditions with similar symptoms

These symptoms usually do not mean you have mesothelioma. Other conditions that share some of these symptoms include:

• Benign (non-cancerous) pleural effusions
• Benign pleural plaques, or a thickening of the lung lining
• Tuberculosis
• Lung cancer

What does mesothelioma feel like

Most people with mesothelioma experience fatigue and shortness of breath.

When to see a doctor

Patients experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor, especially if they have a history of asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma screening

Most people exposed to asbestos worked in the construction, automotive, military, marine and manufacturing sectors.

People who have been exposed to asbestos should tell their doctor and monitor for mesothelioma symptoms. If symptoms appear, they may need to be tested.