| Peritoneal mesothelioma, also known as asbestos | | | | high. Many patients do not make it through the |
| lung cancer, is a relatively uncommon form of | | | | procedure. With this in mind, many medical |
| mesothelioma cancer, accounting for less than a | | | | centers do not choose surgery as a viable |
| quarter of all mesothelioma cases. It is called | | | | treatment option plan at this time. |
| peritoneal because it appears as a tumor in the | | | | Regional chemotherapy is used in peritoneal |
| peritoneum membrane of the abdomen. | | | | mesothelioma cases, when the cancer is still |
| Causes | | | | localized at its point of origin. This option |
| Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of | | | | treatment is employed in both early and late |
| this disease in the USA. Patients afflicted with | | | | stages of the disease using anti-cancer drugs. The |
| Peritoneal Mesothelioma have inhaled or swallowed | | | | drugs are injected directly into the abdomen. |
| asbestos fibers usually through work related | | | | Patients undergo weekly or biweekly treatments |
| activities. Symptoms do not occur until 20 to 40 | | | | depending upon the specific drugs used. |
| years after contact with the mineral and its by | | | | An additional procedure known as adjuvant |
| products. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is | | | | chemotherapy, (regional chemotherapy) can be |
| often fatal and patients who are afflicted by it live | | | | used directly following surgery in order to reduce |
| on average of less than a year from the time of | | | | the likelihood of the cancer returning. However, |
| their diagnosis. | | | | when the cancer cannot be entirely removed |
| Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma | | | | through surgery, chemotherapy will continue |
| Symptoms may include abdominal pain, abdominal | | | | throughout the existence of the cancer in an |
| swelling, a change in your bowel habits, such as | | | | attempt to slow its development. |
| more frequent diarrhea or constipation, lumps of | | | | A second type of treatment known as systemic |
| tissue in the abdomen and unexplained weight loss. | | | | treatments are used when the cancer has |
| Diagnostic Tools | | | | metastasized (spread throughout the body). |
| Peritoneal Mesothelioma is first detected by | | | | Systematic treatments are implemented in either |
| X-rays or CT scans, peritoneoscopy (analysis of | | | | earlier stages or late stages of peritoneal |
| the peritoneum) or a biopsy where a tissue | | | | mesothelioma. |
| sample in taken for examination by a pathologist. | | | | Since peritoneal mesothelioma often remains |
| Treatment Options | | | | dormant for years, the cancer is usually detected |
| Localized treatments treat only the original cancer | | | | in its end stages. At this point patients are too ill |
| site by either surgery or radiotherapy. A | | | | to handle intensive chemotherapy. Doctors choose |
| peritonectomy is a surgery used when peritoneal | | | | non-aggressive palliative care treatments at this |
| mesothelioma is detected early on. However, the | | | | time. Treatment goals are concentrated on |
| symptoms are usually detected only in the most | | | | remedying pain, discomfort and weight loss rather |
| advanced stages because of the gradual | | | | than attacking the disease head on. One type of |
| development of symptoms. Complete removal of | | | | pain common in the late states of this disease is |
| the caner through surgery is doubtful even in the | | | | caused by fluid buildup inside the abdomen. |
| earliest stages of the disease. The first 30 days | | | | Doctors will attempt to reduce the pain and |
| following surgery are crucial. Unfortunately, the | | | | discomfort by draining the excess fluid through a |
| post surgery death rate for this operation is very | | | | procedure called abdominal paracentesis. |