Mesothelioma diagnosis is very difficult because, in its early stages, mesothelioma symptoms are mild or non existent, and those which are present can easily be attributed to other ailments. Also, the Meosthelioma symptoms of the two main types of mesothelioma are different. The onset of mesothelioma symptoms is usually very slow.

Symptoms for Pleural Mesothelioma (involving the lung / chest area) are:

chest pain and pain in the lower back
difficulty breathing
coughing
weight loss
fever
muscle weakness and sensory loss
swelling of the face and arms
hoarseness
coughing up blood

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma (involving the abdominal / stomach cavity, liver, spleen or the bowel) are:

abdominal bloating due to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
nausea & vomiting
swelling of the feet
fever
impaired bowel function.

Unfortunately, the early mesothelioma symptoms are often ignored or mistaken for minor ailments because they are not specific to the disease.

Therefore, it is critical to investigate one's exposure to asbestos. While pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, cough, fever, sweating, fatigue and weight loss may be common to many minor ailments, it is the knowledge that these mesothelioma symptoms are present in a person with a high likelihood of asbestos exposure that should raise a red flag.