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Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, develops in the lining of the abdomen, lungs, testicles, or heart. This form of cancer is common in veterans because they were exposed to asbestos during their service in the military. Asbestos was often used to build military housing, ships, aircraft, and more.
Statistics suggest veterans account for 30% of all Americans who’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you were exposed to asbestos in the 20th century, there’s a high possibility you have mesothelioma. Discussed below are four mesothelioma symptoms veterans should know.
Shortness of breath
Breathlessness is among the common early signs of mesothelioma that you, as a veteran, should be aware of. The following factors can cause shortness of breath:
- Pleural effusion: It’s the fluid buildup between pleural layers. Effusion restricts full lung expansion, meaning less oxygen will be available when breathing, causing shortness of breath
- Pleural thickening: Pleural allows lungs to expand painlessly and quickly. However, the pleural tissue usually thickens in people with mesothelioma, making it more difficult for the lungs to expand. This triggers breathlessness
- Pain: Pain from pleural thickening or effusion, tumors pushing against organs and tissues, or treatments make it hard to take complete breathes, causing shortness of breath or dyspnea
Additionally, tumors may be big enough to limit lung expansion and breathing, causing breathlessness. If you’re a veteran with mesothelioma, organizations such as the Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you get the support you need to fight this disease.
Unexplained weight loss
Veterans with mesothelioma are likely to experience unintentional weight loss. While any form of mesothelioma can result in unexplained weight loss, it’s popular in peritoneal mesothelioma. The tumors in the abdomen cause a feeling of bloatedness and fullness, resulting in loss of appetite and eating less.
Cancer cells are another cause of weight loss in veterans with mesothelioma because they need a lot of energy when growing, dividing, and spreading all over the body, causing weight loss. Mesothelioma treatments’ side effects can also cause reduced appetite and unintentional weight loss.
Chronic cough
A cough with no apparent explanation is a common mesothelioma symptom and may worsen as the cancer advances. Many coughing mesothelioma patients experience dry, nagging coughs that often go on for weeks or months. They may also have wet, productive coughs that bring up phlegm.
As mesothelioma progresses, people may cough up blood. The damage asbestos causes over time can result in irritation that causes a chronic cough. Coughing may also be caused by complications associated with mesothelioma, including:
- Pulmonary embolism, fluid build-up in the pleura
- Pleural effusion
- Respiratory infections
Pain
People with mesothelioma, including pleural and peritoneal types of cancer, usually experience pain. Mesothelioma pain may be caused by:
- Tumors: Most of the mesothelioma pain is caused by cancer tumors. The tumors press on other organs, nerves, and tissues as they grow, causing pain
- Treatments: Most mesothelioma treatments created to increase a patient’s lifespan also cause pain. Mesothelioma surgery can cause pain that lasts several days or weeks during recovery. The side effects of chemotherapy can also cause pain. Radiation therapy also causes pain from damaged skin. Pain may also be triggered because of damage to internal organs and tissues
Your healthcare provider can suggest several pain management strategies to minimize pain and enhance quality of life.
Endnote
Mesothelioma is common in veterans, and knowing its signs is key to ensuring proper diagnosis and timely treatment. Shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, cough, and pain are some of the mesothelioma symptoms veterans should know.
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