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Can Mesothelioma Cause Edema?
Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It presents many different symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest and/or abdominal pain, and more. One of the most common symptoms is edema, or swelling.
Edema is a common symptom of many different forms of cancer, as well as chemotherapy used to treat cancers like mesothelioma.[1] Edema may present itself as swelling in the lower extremities, the arms and hands, the abdomen, the face, and in other areas. It often appears as puffy or shiny skin that may dent slightly when pressed.
While edema is often caused by failure of the liver, kidneys and/or heart, leading to fluid retention, mesothelioma causes edema most often due to superior vena cava syndrome. The superior vena cava, or SVC, is the large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body back to the heart.[2]
Mesothelioma tumors can push onto the SVC[3], causing blood flow to decrease. This symptom is known as superior vena cava syndrome, or SVCS. It can cause edema, as well as retrograde flow. There are a variety of different treatment options available for this issue when it’s caused by mesothelioma, such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and intravascular stents.[4]
Other complications associated with mesothelioma may also cause edema. A common issue in later stages of mesothelioma is the cancer metastasizing to different areas of the body. As early as stage IB, the cancer can spread onto and into the SVC itself, leading to SVCS. By stage IV, mesothelioma can metastasize to the liver and other distant organs.[5] A cancerous liver can cause water and nutrition retention, leading to swelling.
Certain medicines used for chemotherapy can also lead to fluid retention, causing edema.* While edema caused by chemotherapy is often not life-threatening, it can cause severe issues, such as difficulty breathing.[6] Depending on the chemotherapy being used, a doctor may prescribe diuretics to relieve some fluid build-up.
Patients may find some relief from edema by lowering their sodium intake to lower fluid retention; however, this diet change should be discussed with the patient’s doctor, as electrolytes like salt may be vital for the efficacy of certain medications. Patients may also find temporary relief by elevating the swollen body parts as well as they can, and by maintaining a healthy diet.[7]
[1] https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/edema
[2] http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-2012872644
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1875200/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728369/
[5] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/staging.html
[6] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/edema/symptoms-causes/syc-20366493
[7] https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/swelling.html
