Unfortunately, it is common for the early mesothelioma symptoms to often be ignored or mistaken for some minor ailments because they are not specific to the disease, but could indicate other more common health problems..

So this means that it is critical for the patient or family to investigate and determine if there is any exposure to asbestos. While lower back pain, a pain at the side of the chest, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, cough, fever, sweating, fatigue, and weight loss may be symptoms common to many minor ailments, it is the knowledge that these mesothelioma symptoms are present in a person with a possible high likelihood of asbestos exposure that should raise a red flag and be diagnosed quickly.

Malignant mesothelioma symptoms and signs from other mesotheliomas depend upon location of the mesothelioma, its size, and whether it is benign or malignant. Benign forms of this lung disease are generally asymptomatic.

The symptomatology of malignant mesotheliomas are due to tumour growth resulting in invasion of surrounding body structures and/or the production of fluid (pleural effusion, ascites, or pericardial effusion). Patient chest pain may be caused by invasion of the chest wall. Pleural effusion often causes collapse of adjacent lung and marked shortness of breath.

Mesothelioma cancer symptoms of distant spread are possible, but uncommon since the tumour is usually a local problem and blood borne spread is uncommon for most cases.

Mesothelioma patients with more an advanced disease may be ill generally with fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Involvement of the membrane around the heart (pericardium) may cause heart rhythm disturbances.