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Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that most often forms in the lungs. It’s caused by exposure to asbestos, often in industrial jobs. However, mesothelioma often takes years to develop, meaning the average patient is about 72 years old.[1]
When mesothelioma develops in the lungs, it’s called pleural mesothelioma. This disease can present a variety of symptoms[2], including:
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the chest
- Wet and dry cough
- Hoarseness
- Trouble swallowing
- And more
Because mesothelioma makes it hard to breathe and causes shortness of breath and coughing, dizziness can be a serious concern. Heavy coughing can lead to cough syncope or dizziness, whether mesothelioma is present or not. Shortness of breath can also cause the brain to not get enough oxygen, leading to lightheadedness and dizziness.
Treatment of mesothelioma can also cause dizziness. In many cases, the ideal treatment is surgical removal of the tumor and scar tissue. However, because of the advanced age of may of the patients, surgery is too risky. In these cases, chemotherapy may be a preferred treatment option. In fact, certain chemotherapy treatments have been shown to have positive results in 40 to 50 percent of treated patients.[3]
When chemotherapy is used, it can have drastic effects on the patient’s body. Fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy. The treatment regimen may cause anemia, lack of sleep, hormonal changes and other side effects that can cause fatigue as the medicine destroys healthy and cancerous cells alike.[4] This fatigue can often lead to dizziness, especially if the patient doesn’t get enough rest.
Another common side effect of chemotherapy is known as “chemo brain,” or chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment. This can lead to confusion, difficulty concentrating, fatigue and, in some cases, dizziness.[5]
Mesothelioma patients who experience dizziness at any point before, during or after treatment are encouraged to speak with their healthcare providers about their symptoms. In some cases, the dizziness may simply be a side effect of the cancer itself, or of the treatment. The patient’s doctor may prescribe certain medication or another regimen, like bedrest, to treat the dizziness.
However, in some cases, dizziness may be a symptom of a different underlying issue. A medical professional can evaluate the mesothelioma patient to diagnose the cause of dizziness and prescribe other and/or additional treatment.
[1] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/about/key-statistics.html
[2] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5830568/
[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-fatigue/art-20047709
[5] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chemo-brain/symptoms-causes/syc-20351060
