Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by asbestos and it attacks the lining of the abdomen. It affects the lining that surrounds the abdomen protecting it. This lining also provides fluid, which lubricates the organs so that they freely move and work properly.
It is accountable for about 10% of all mesothelioma cases, and it is the second most common next to pleural mesothelioma. The disease will present itself with a very long latency period. Symptoms do not show themselves until 10 to 50 years later. What is worse is once symptoms begin to occur they are very non-specific and so often they are attributed to many other more common conditions. This delays treatment even further because it can often take some years before the symptoms materialize to a point where they are followed up on in more depth. That is why it is so important to tell your doctor if you have ever worked around asbestos.
Symptoms include weight loss, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite, nausea, weakness, bowel obstruction, and abdominal swelling. There may also be breathing problems depending on the location of the tumor, and there is often severe pain especially as the disease progresses.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is usually fatal but there are treatments that are used to slow down the spread of the disease, to eliminate pain, and to improve the quality of life. The treatment[s] chosen depend on the age of the patient, the overall health, and past medical history.
Surgery – This involve the cutting out of part of the tissue and lining from the abdomen, to gain access to the tumor and remove it. How much tissue is removed, and even whether surgery is done depends on how big the tumor is or if it has spread. Sometime a lung or part of a lung must be removed. Sometimes part of the diaphragm must also be removed.
Radiation – This uses high energy x-rays to reduce the size of the tumor and kill of the surrounding cancerous cells. Radiation therapy can be administered either externally by use of a machine that targets the area and then emits radiation to that area. The second is by placing the radiation directly in the affected area.
Chemotherapy – This is one or a combination of drugs used in an attempt to kill off cancer cells. It can be administered by mouth in tablets, or intravenously into a vein or muscle.
These treatments can be used alone but often they are combined in an effort to get the upper hand on the peritoneal mesothelioma. The treatments are the same for pleural mesothelioma.