What is peritoneal mesothelioma?

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen. This type of cancer is caused by asbestos exposure, and it affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen and which also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen. This type of cancer is caused by asbestos exposure, and it affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen and which also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly.

This disease is sometimes referred to as diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma, and this is where the cancer has spread out. Accountable for around ten percent of mesothelioma cases, this type asbestos-related cancer is the second most common (after Pleural Mesothelioma).

There are a number of symptoms for this disease. However, like all other types of mesothelioma, there is a very long latency period, and symptoms may not become evident for decades after exposure. This means that by the time symptoms have begun, it is often already too late to offer any real constructive treatment. Further delay can be caused due to the fact that the symptoms are generally non-specific and can therefore be attributed to a number of more common ailments. Unless your doctor is aware that you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, he or she is likely to look at other options before even contemplating mesothelioma. It is therefore important to let your doctor know of any exposure to this substance.

The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include: abdominal pains and weakness; weight loss; nausea; loss off appetite; abdominal swelling; bowel obstruction. Depending on the location of the tumour, additional problems can be experienced such as breathing problems and severe pains.

Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma can also vary, and is dependant upon a number of factors. The doctor, once a diagnosis has been made, will make a recommendation based upon details such as: the extent of the cancer and how advanced it is; the patient?s general condition and health; past medical history of the patient; and the patient?s age.

Treatments include:

Surgery: This entails cutting out part of the lining and tissue from the abdomen in order to remove the tumour. Whether or not surgery is performed and how much tissue is removed will depend on how far the cancer has spread and how big the tumour is. It may sometimes be necessary to remove a lung or part of the diaphragm in order for surgery to succeed in removal of the tumour.

Radiation Therapy: This is where high energy x-rays are used to shrink tumours and kill off cancerous cells in the affected area. There are two ways to administer radiation therapy. The first is through external means, where a machine is placed outside the body and emits radiation through the body. The second is by placing a source of radiation directly to the affected area by way of plastic tubes. As well as administering the radiation treatment through the tubes, doctors are also able to administer any required drugs this way.

Chemotherapy: This is where a combination of drugs is used to try and kill off cancer cells. Drugs can be administered by mouth in tablet form, or you may have to have them administered intravenously via needle into a vein or a muscle. The drug can then enter the blood stream and travel through the body, hopefully killing off any cancer cells along the way.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is responsible for many deaths each year. Although it is not the most common form of this cancer, many new cases come to light each year. However, with continued research and clinical trials, it may be possible to one day make this a curable disease.

peritonial refer to the location of the tumor - pleura or peritonium..mesothelioma is a rare malignant tumor of the mesothelium of the pleura.. a lesion composed of spindle cells or fibrous tissue..peritonial mesothelioma is associated with earlier exposure to asbestos..also called celothelioma..prognosis is poor..im sorry

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a relatively uncommon form of mesothelioma cancer that accounts for less than a quarter of all mesothelioma cases. It is called Peritoneal because it appears as a tumor in the pertioneum membrane of the abdomen. Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of this disease and usually symptoms do not occur until 20 to 40 years afterward. Unfortunately, due to a lack of effective treatments, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is often fatal and patients who are afflicted by it will live on average less than a year from the time of their diagnosis.

When peritoneal mesothelioma does becomes active victims will typically experience abdominal pains, a loss of appetite, nausea, and swelling of the abdomen. Obstruction of the bowels or hindered breathing due to tumor growth are also possible symptoms.

Generally peritoneal mesothelioma is first detected by X-rays or CT scans conducted after a patient has complained of abdominal symptoms. After an abnormality is detected doctors will perform an analysis of the peritoneum. This procedure is known as peritoneoscopy. If an abnormality is verified, the doctor will perform a 'biopsy' or in laymen terms obtain a tissue sample for examination by a pathologist. The pathologist will than look at the tissue under a telescope and determine if mesothelioma is present.

Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, there are two general types of treatments; systemic and localized. Localized treatments are an attempt to eliminate the cancer by either surgery or radiotherapy and treat only the immediate area of the cancer. Systemic treatments, on the other hand, are designed to combat the cancer through out the whole body, and may be used either in earlier stages or late stages of the disease.

Primary peritoneal cancer is a cancer of the cells lining the peritoneum, or abdominal cavity.

Prognosis and treatment is the same as for the most common variarion of ovarian cancer, epithelial ovarian cancer.

Some studies indicate that between 7 and 20 percent of initially diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancers could be properly reclassified as primary peritoneal cancers.

The cancer does involve mesothelial cells and can be medically described as mesothelioma; however, this cancer should not be confused with asbestos-related mesothelioma, which requires different treatments and has a much higher mortality rate.