Complications from Mesothelioma

In Summary: When a doctor diagnoses a patient with mesothelioma, it’s usually not until stages three or four of the disease, the later stages. After mesothelioma has progressed this far, tumors usually have already caused significant damage to the tissue lining of the affected area and possibly other regions of the body. Treatment of the disease can also cause adverse side effects on the patient. When any of these situations occur, complications are usually not far behind. Complications encompass health issues that happen during the illness, treatment, or afterward. These issues may be connected to the disease, a medical procedure, or anti-cancer medications. Read about what complications mesothelioma patients may encounter.

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What Are Complications?

Complications are unanticipated conditions caused by a disease, treatment, procedure, or some combination of those. Complications can mean that someone who’s been diagnosed with cancer, such as mesothelioma, must persevere through unexpected developments along with their regular cancer treatment. Fortunately, speaking with a specialist and familiarizing with potential complications can help a patient feel more prepared and less intimidated by their prognosis.

Complications will typically revolve around a specific area or condition, depending on the treatment plan that the patient is following. Given that asbestos usually affects the pleural mesothelium, breathing (respiratory) complications are the most common among patients with malignant mesothelioma.

Respiratory Complications

The most common complications to develop from mesothelioma involve the respiratory system. This is because pleural mesothelioma, which affects the pleura surrounding the lungs, accounts for 85% of mesothelioma diagnoses. Respiratory complications are a frequent occurrence in mesothelioma diagnosis and why victims of mesothelioma need to seek the help of a specialist.

Mesothelioma specialists are more familiar with the disease’s symptoms and respiratory complications and can help diagnose potential issues earlier than a typical oncologist.

Shortness of Breath

People diagnosed with mesothelioma may experience shortness of breath for a variety of reasons. The most common reason being the growth of tumors on the pleural lining that surrounds the lungs could prevent them from taking full breaths. It’s also a common symptom of other complications or related conditions. Causes can include:

Pleural Effusion
Pericardial Effusion
Collapsed Lung
Respiratory Distress

While some of these complications may seem benign on the surface, they could be dangerous if left untreated.

Pleural Effusion

Along with being a potential complication of treatment, pleural effusion is also a condition related to mesothelioma. Sometimes referred to as “water-on-the-lungs,” pleural effusion is a build-up of fluid between layers of the lungs. This is something a doctor can resolve with a simple procedure, but it’s likely going to be a recurring problem.

Pericardial Effusion

Pericardial effusion develops when fluid builds up in the pericardium, or the sac surrounding the heart. Usually, there’s already a thin layer of liquid in this space, but if the pericardium becomes injured or diseased, subsequent inflammation can lead to excess fluid. Along with being a potential complication of treatment, pericardial effusion can be also a condition related to mesothelioma. This is something a doctor can resolve with a surgical procedure, but it’s likely going to be a recurring problem.

Rounded Atelectasis

Though there is some debate as to what causes rounded atelectasis, better known as a partially collapsed lung, the condition is typically attributed to part of the lung not fully expanding. Some specialists have theorized that this is a result of pleural effusion and pleural thickening. In almost every case, however, it occurs in patients with a history of asbestos exposure.

Collapsed Lung

A fully collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, is a result of a build-up of air within the chest cavity but outside of the lung. This is a rare condition for patients with mesothelioma but is still possible. It can also happen after drainage of pleural fluid or pleural biopsy.

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Complications from Treatment

The ultimate goal of treating any condition is to help the patient while relieving their pain. However, some treatments can trigger complications in mesothelioma patients. These include raising the risk of infection or strain on the body. Patients who communicate openly with their doctor can mitigate these risk factors and avoid unnecessary complications.

Possible Complications from Surgery

Performing surgery on patients with mesothelioma can create issues down the line, depending on how far their mesothelioma has progressed. Before performing any surgery, doctors will look at the patient’s age, health, extent and type of mesothelioma, and prognosis to determine the best course of action. However, at times, there are unavoidable procedures that could cause complications with the patient. Possible complications as a result of surgery include:

Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary Embolus
Bronchial Air Leaks
Mediastinal Shift
Lung Collapse
Hemothorax or Pneumothorax
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Chest wall pain

While it is typical for the physical strain of surgery to result in some pain that can be mitigated, there are cases where the pain could be a symptom of a complication. If someone experiences any pain or discomfort after surgery, they should speak with their doctor to get to the bottom of it.

Possible Complications from Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, though invaluable to the treatment of mesothelioma, has also been known to weaken the patient. This is a result of the chemo medication being unable to determine which cells are healthy and which have become cancerous. Possible complications from chemotherapy include:

Hair loss
Weakened immune system and increased risk of infections
Nausea and vomiting
Neuropathy
Fatigue
Respiratory Infections
Myelosuppression that causes anemia, low platelets or low white blood cell count

There are multiple ways for doctors to mitigate complications related to chemotherapy. Keeping an open dialogue with the administering doctor can catch complications early on and prevent them from becoming more significant issues down the road.

Possible Complications from Radiation

Similar to chemotherapy, radiation is something that has become somewhat of a staple in mesothelioma treatment. New advances are improving the scope and accuracy of radiation, allowing oncologists to target smaller areas without affecting the entire body. Still, radiation therapy can cause the following complications:

Radiation pneumonitis
Chronic radiation fibrosis
Skin irritation or burn

Though less common, a specialist can identify potential complications before they become more severe. There are multiple ways for doctors to mitigate complications related to radiation therapy.

Receiving Help

Any complication that arises from mesothelioma can raise the cost of treatment unexpectedly. Help from asbestos trust funds and legal action can cover these costs. Reaching out to a mesothelioma lawyer can help you or a loved one receive the compensation needed to cover the costs of treatment.