Initial Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
People usually develop peritoneal mesothelioma as a result of a period of asbestos exposure. The progression of peritoneal mesothelioma can be very slow. Some patients might not have definable peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms for one to five decades.
It's also true that many of the earlier symptoms are common enough that people might not easily recognize them as peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms.
At first, people will frequently experience a wide range of digestive symptoms. Pronounced abdominal pain is very common.
Other people will experience nausea and obstructed bowels, possibly leading to constipation. People might find that their abdomens will swell as a result of the accumulation of fluid.
At the same time, they might still experience sudden and dramatic weight loss. The weight loss might relate to an extreme loss of appetite and a functional inability to eat. Vomiting is also common, and that can accelerate the weight loss even more.
For some people, these symptoms will be subtle. Patients might not have a lot of easily definable symptoms at all, in fact. They might just generally feel weak. The persistent feeling of weakness might be related to anemia, which is another common symptom of the disease.
However, the feelings of weakness could have more complicated physiological causes. Diseases like this can affect the body in complex ways.
Related: Mesothelioma Causes Other Than Asbestos
Cases of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
People who are concerned that they might have peritoneal mesothelioma should know that it is currently a very rare disease. In the United States, only five hundred people get diagnosed with it every year.
Being exposed to asbestos is less common in the modern world, and comparatively few people should be at risk for peritoneal mesothelioma today.
Many of the initial symptoms associated with peritoneal mesothelioma are also generic enough that if people are displaying any of them, they probably have a very different illness.
People who are presenting with these symptoms should still consult with a physician as soon as they can, one way or another.
Related: The Different Types of Mesothelioma
