Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Pneumonia
The two most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are breathing difficulties and chest pain. These symptoms usually develop as a result of fluid accumulation in the area around the lungs, also known as pleural effusion, or tumors that suppress the lung wall and thorax.
There are differences in symptoms depending on whether the pneumonia is bacterial or viral, but its main symptoms are very much to mimic mesothelioma. When people consult a doctor with these symptoms, they are almost always suspected of suffering from pneumonia, and not mesothelioma. Treatment will be given as such and since this treatment will likely overcome some pleural effusions, people will feel better and consider their doctor correct with his diagnosis.
Interestingly, 25% of patients with mesothelioma have symptoms of pleural effusion before visiting a doctor.
Another reason why mesothelioma and pneumonia are often confused is because the patient experiences pleural thickening. This means the pleura becomes a scar and the lungs lose their elasticity. When this happens, normal breathing worsens. Some diseases can cause this, more commonly than mesothelioma, and include pneumonia, empyema, pleuritis and tuberculosis.
There are differences in symptoms depending on whether the pneumonia is bacterial or viral, but its main symptoms are very much to mimic mesothelioma. When people consult a doctor with these symptoms, they are almost always suspected of suffering from pneumonia, and not mesothelioma. Treatment will be given as such and since this treatment will likely overcome some pleural effusions, people will feel better and consider their doctor correct with his diagnosis.
Interestingly, 25% of patients with mesothelioma have symptoms of pleural effusion before visiting a doctor.
Another reason why mesothelioma and pneumonia are often confused is because the patient experiences pleural thickening. This means the pleura becomes a scar and the lungs lose their elasticity. When this happens, normal breathing worsens. Some diseases can cause this, more commonly than mesothelioma, and include pneumonia, empyema, pleuritis and tuberculosis.
