What are the symptoms of Malignant Mesothelioma?

About 90% of people who are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have chest pain or shortness of breath as the first symptoms of the disease. These symptoms can be caused either by the cancer itself, which irritates nerve cells in nearby tissues, or by a collection of fluid between the two layers of the pleura in the chest. This collection of fluid is called a pleural effusion. People with mesothelioma that develops in the abdominal lining can have abdominal pain and swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Other possible symptoms include cough, fatigue and unexplained weight loss.