Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second-most common type of mesothelioma and accounts for 10 to 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases. The cancer develops in the abdomen over a course of decades after asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested. Modern diagnostic tests are used to detect peritoneal mesothelioma. Although the disease is usually diagnosed in the later stages of development, treatment options are available.
Some patients may be good candidates for curative treatments such as surgery, while others may elect for palliative measures alone. Overall prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma patients is less than one year. However, life expectancy can increase with effective treatment. Working with a mesothelioma specialist helps patients receive the best possible care for their cancer, which could have a significant impact on a patient's prognosis.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Prognosis

Some studies have found that men live an average of seven months after being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, with some patients living up to 100 months. Women, on the other hand, generally live for about nine months after diagnosis, with some living up to 49 months. Prognosis is generally better in patients whose mesothelioma is diagnosed early and whose symptoms are less severe. The cell structure of the tumors can also play a part in life expectancy, as well as treatments selected.
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Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum

Once asbestos is inhaled it can affect many of the body's different organs including the throat, lungs, stomach, heart and testicles.

The peritoneum is a membranous layer that is made up of two sub-layers called the parietal and visceral layers. The parietal layer covers the abdominal cavity, while the visceral layer surrounds abdominal organs. Together these two layers provide support and protection for abdominal organs and the abdominal cavity as a whole.
There are two main theories regarding how asbestos exposure leads to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma:

• Asbestos fibers are ingested, and these fibers work their way from digestive organs into the peritoneal membrane.
• Asbestos fibers are inhaled, and travel to the peritoneal membrane via the lymphatic system.

Regardless of how asbestos fibers actually enter the peritoneal layers, once they do enter the membrane, the body experiences difficulty in expelling them. The fibers become trapped in the peritoneal membrane, and over a period of two or more decades, cause certain changes in the mesothelial cells of the peritoneum.
The exact way in which asbestos fibers cause changes in these mesothelial cells is uncertain. However, some researchers believe asbestos fibers cause long-term inflammation and irritation that eventually causes mesothelial cells to become cancerous. Cancerous mesothelial cells divide and grow without restraint, and this uncontrolled cell growth causes thickening of the peritoneum, and the build-up of fluid in the peritoneal layers.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

A patient with peritoneal mesothelioma may not demonstrate symptoms of the cancer for 20 to 50 years after initial asbestos exposure since it often takes years for mesothelioma to manifest. In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, asbestos fibers travel into the peritoneal layers where they cause irritation and inflammation and the development of cancerous cells which divide and grow uncontrollably. The cells cause thickening of the peritoneum and fluid build-up in the peritoneal layers. As the cancerous cells continue to divide overtime, tumors start to form. Most peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms are caused by this membrane thickening, fluid build-up, and eventual tumor development - all of which put pressure on internal organs.
Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Changes in bowel habits (such as diarrhea or constipation)
• Development of lumps under the skin on the abdomen
• Night sweats or fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue
• Anemia

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Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosis

X-rays are the most common scans used to help diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma.

A peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of symptoms alone. The process begins with a thorough examination of a patient’s medical history and physical condition, followed by sophisticated diagnostic testing such as imaging and fluid and tissue tests.
Imaging tests such as x-rays or CT scans are used to detect any abnormalities in the body and a biopsy is usually performed to confirm that the cancer involved is indeed mesothelioma. A biopsy is a minor surgical procedure that involves the removal of fluid or tissue from the peritoneum.
After the biopsy, the fluid and tissue is tested in a laboratory for the presence of mesothelioma cells. If the biopsy returned reveals that a patient has peritoneal mesothelioma, the doctor, together with the patient, will detail a treatment plan.
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Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatments

Though treating peritoneal mesothelioma can be difficult since the cancer has typically progressed to later stages of development, doctors typically recommend treatment to patients to combat the cancer and aid in pain relief. Common treatments used for patients with mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy medications and radiation therapy target and kill cancerous cells that rapidly divide.
While no known cure for peritoneal mesothelioma exists, patients may elect to undergo a combination of treatments or participate in clinical trials to alleviate pain and increase the quality of life. Clinical trials are studies that qualifying patients may participate to test up-and-coming medications and treatments. All potential treatment options and medications must go through clinical trials before they are deemed safe and effective.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is just one effective form of peritoneal mesothelioma treatment.

Some peritoneal mesothelioma patients may opt for intraperitoneal chemotherapy, where medications are injected directly into the peritoneum immediately following surgery. In some cases, patients may first go through radiation therapy to shrink tumors before undergoing surgery.
Many patients, however, are not good candidates for surgery since mesothelioma has often spread too extensively or because the patient's general health is too poor to cope with the stress of surgery. These patients may elect to participate in palliative treatment options that do not attempt to cure a patient, but work to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for peritoneal mesothelioma patients