Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer affecting the tissues that surround the body’s essential organs. It is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage making it difficult to treat and remove the cancer surgically and discussing the various treatment methods with a doctor to decide what the goal of treatment will be is a vital part of the process. Peritoneal mesothelioma is diagnosed in a patient when the signs and symptoms representative of mesothelioma are indicting the thin tissue layer surrounding the abdomen is being affected. These symptoms may include abdominal pain and swelling, weight loss or palpable lumps in the abdominal region.

Mesothelioma is diagnosed based upon which organ is primarily impacted by the cancer. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type and affects the lungs and other possible diagnoses are pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis. The symptoms accompanying this aggressive, rare form of cancer are often attributable to other conditions although if they do persist they should be promptly evaluated by a medical professional. For those who have elevated risk levels for developing mesothelioma it is especially important to mention concerns to the doctor as an earlier diagnosis may lead to more available treatment methods.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, similar to other forms, has an extended latency period of up to 50 years which contributes to the frequency of late-stage diagnoses. Asbestos continues to be a primary risk factor for developing mesothelioma although not everyone who is exposed to the material is affected. In addition to discovering effective treatment methods researcher are also concerned with determining what makes someone more likely to develop the cancer than others exposed to the same environment. Asbestos is a mineral found naturally in the environment and was utilized for decades in construction and manufacturing due to its heat resistance and strong fibers. Over time it has been found that when these fibers are inhaled they can adhere to the throat and bronchi. Peritoneal mesothelioma is believed to occur from a person coughing the inhaled fibers and subsequently swallowing them.

The length of time an individual was exposed to asbestos in their work or home environment coupled with the quantity of exposure are both related to the risk of developing mesothelioma. Household members are also at an increased risk of being diagnosed with cancer in the future as they are exposed through the fibers existing on the clothes and hair of the member who works in contact with asbestos. Radiation and the simian virus 40 are other factors being investigated as potential causes of mesothelioma.

A complete medical history and physical examination are the initial steps to diagnosing a patient with peritoneal mesothelioma. Additional tests will be completed if this examination supports the possibility symptoms are related to mesothelioma. Imaging tests such as an x-ray or CT scan along with blood work are done to further assess what condition is causing a patient’s symptoms and if the results strongly suggest the presence of cancer a biopsy is performed in order to make a formal diagnosis. Mesothelioma patients will be categorized in stages depending on how far the cancer has spread and influences which treatment alternatives are advisable. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the techniques generally recommended to meet the patient’s personal goals. Surgery works to remove the cancer and restrict chances the cancer will spread to other parts and organs of the body. This alternative is most efficient in the earlier stages of peritoneal mesothelioma. The function of chemotherapy is to kill the cancer cells, reducing the likelihood of cancer returning following surgery or to slow the growth of cells that cannot be surgically removed whereas radiation is utilized to reduce symptoms of mesothelioma with high-energy beams.