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An average of three-thousand Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Although generally fatal, research shows that early detection is key to survival. Those who survive mesothelioma the longest have one thing in common: early detection. Unusual coughing can be an early detection sign worth paying attention to.
Coughs are natural. Coughing is a way for the body to expel excess fluids, eliminate irritants from the throat, or the result of a serious condition. Coughs may be acute, chronic, and/or persistent. Allergies, colds, flus, and sinusitis are common causes of coughs. These generally go away within days or weeks of clearing the underlying condition. However, some coughs may indicate something more.
Coughs related to common illnesses may last up to three weeks, sometimes well after the illness has run its course. If a cough lasts longer, stretching into months, it is important to see a doctor. Researchers have found that most patients with lung cancer and mesothelioma report a cough that does not seem to end. Some of the symptoms associated with coughs and cancer include:
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-caused form of cancer which usually occurs in the lining of the lung, called the pleura. When asbestos enters the lungs, it accumulates. Over time the microscopic asbestos fibers cause problems such as asbestosis, small cell lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Many of the symptoms listed above are often associated with cancer growth in the body, but when combined with the persistent and annoying cough, they become an issue worth discussing with a doctor. Recurring lung infections are especially common in those suffering from lung cancer. It is not uncommon for someone to enter the hospital with pneumonia and discover the more serious underlying condition: Mesothelioma.
A cough that will not stop may be a sign of a lung infection. A lung infection could be a sign of mesothelioma. Because a cough often appears long before something becomes serious enough to force a person into the hospital, the cough can be an early warning sign of something worse.
If you or someone you love has been impacted by mesothelioma, contact a Philadelphia Mesothelioma lawyer at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler. To set up an initial consultation, complete our online form or call 215-569-4000 or 800-369-0899. For more than three decades we have served the people of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as Delaware County, Chester County, and Philadelphia County.