Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include, but are not limited to:

Ascites

Ascites is the abnormal collection of fluid in the abdomen; when it is caused by cancer, it is referred to as malignant ascites. A cancer diagnosis is only made in about 10% of ascites cases, and of that 10%, peritoneal mesotheioma makes up only a very small percentage. Ascites can be quite uncomfortable, causing swelling of the abdomen, weight gain, indigestion, nausia, and swelling of the feet and ankles.

Pain or swelling in the abdomen

Fluid retention usually causes swelling; solid tumor masses may be responsible for pain.

Weight loss

Despite the accumulated fluid, which often increases waist size, a patient's appetite may be aversely affected by peritoneal mesothelioma resulting in weight loss.

Bowel obstruction

A blockage in the small or large intestine is a rare, and often late-occuring, symptom of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Anemia

A reduction in the number of red blood cells to below normal; this forces the heart and other organs to work harder to get oxygen where it's needed.

Fever

Infection is the most common cause of fever in cancer patients, but tumor cells can also produce fever-causing agents. A bowel obstruction may also cause fever.