Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Rare But Life-Threatening
Read more articles on Health.August 9, 2006
Posted by Rebecca Lanham
August 9, 2006
Posted by Rebecca Lanham
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Most people currently know about mesothelioma. It has been advertised in lawyer’s ads for years! However, knowing that it exists and knowing what it is are two different things.
Mesothelioma is an extremely rare type of cancer. The areas of the body that it affects are normally the larger body cavities, including those in the chest and abdomen. In those cases which are reported, it has been found that up to 80% can be directly related to the exposure to asbestos.
There are two types of mesothelioma seen most often: pleural and peritoneal. Pleural affects the chest cavity, while peritoneal affects the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma has been shown to account for about 20% of all the reported cases of this disease.
* Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Under the umbrella “peritoneal mesothelioma”, there have been two recognized types: malignant and diffuse, which is cancerous, and benign and localized, which is non-cancerous. In some circles, benign mesothelioma is a myth, as certain health care professionals believe this is a misdiagnosis of different types of cancer, unrelated to mesothelial cells. No matter what, mesothelioma is not a diagnosis you want to ignore.
When it comes to the benign form, most doctors will be able to perform surgery and remove the cancer completely. In these cases, the outlook for the patient is quite positive and the disease is not life-threatening. In studies, it is believe that this particular form on mesothelioma is not related to asbestos exposure.
When you receive a diagnosis of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, you are facing a very serious and rare form of cancer. It affects the thin layer of mesothelial cells enveloping the organs in your abdomen. Those who have this form of cancer in the United States were exposed to asbestos in 100% of the reported cases.
The most common way to diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma is through routine abdominal x-rays, sometimes performed during an annual physical. This can occur before the person who has the cancer even shows symptoms. A delay in the diagnosis can increase the risk of the cancer spreading throughout the body.
Some of the common symptoms associated with peritoneal mesothelioma are so general that they are often overlooked by those suffering. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- Abdominal pressure
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of weight
- Nausea
- Swelling
As the disease progresses, more serious symptoms may develop, like:
- Bowel obstruction
- Distension
- More serious abdominal pain
During the initial medical exams, health care professionals will often find there are fluids built up in the peritoneal cavity, which is a condition called ascites. Even when a doctor recognized these symptoms, though, a definite diagnosis of mesothelioma cannot be made until a biopsy of a piece of the tissue is taken.
No cure for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma exists. Early detection can improve the chances of the patient, however. The doctor’s decision on a course of treatment can vary from surgery to chemotherapy, depending on the stage of the cancer.
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