In its early stages of development, mesothelioma really has no symptoms. People don’t feel sick or have anything obvious going on that they would pick up on and be able to address. However, that doesn’t mean the disease isn’t developing. When the mesothelioma tumors get large enough, chest pain and shortness of breath will start to become a problem. If left untreated, mesothelioma can also cause nausea, fatigue, and weight loss. Ultimately, a person with untreated mesothelioma will die. There’s no cure for mesothelioma but there are treatments that can prolong life – sometimes for many years, other times for months. With that in mind, it’s very important that anyone experiencing mesothelioma symptoms see his or her doctor.
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos in the past and don’t have mesothelioma symptoms, it’s still a good idea to see your doctor in order to determine if you’re at high risk for the disease. Mesothelioma can take between 20 and 50 years after asbestos exposure to develop, so don’t simply ignore the possibilities. If you catch a disease like mesothelioma very early, before any symptoms get started, it’s much easier to treat and you’ll have a lot better chance of having a good (and longer) prognosis. Naturally that’s very valuable and can also help to bring peace of mind to loved ones and friends who need you around.