Primary Peritoneal is a rare form of mesothelioma that accounts for approximately 20% of all mesothelioma cases. Primary Peritoneal affects the tissue lining the abdomen which is called the peritoneum hence the name of this form of the cancer. The peritoneum protects the contents of the abdomen and is therefore very important.
Currently, only one cause of is known and this is exposure to asbestos dust and fibres. Only a couple of months of exposure to asbestos without sufficient protection can lead to peritoneal mesothelioma thirty to fifty years later. Those suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma are mostly elderly men who worked amongst asbestos decades ago when workers were not protected from asbestos dust. Many of these men are currently lodging multi-million dollar lawsuits against the companies who exposed them to asbestos. Asbestos fibres can get into the peritoneum in two different ways. The most common way they reach the peritoneum is by them getting trapped in the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (inside the lungs) by mucus and end up being swallowed. From here they can pass through the intestine wall into the peritoneum. The second way in which asbestos fibres can reach the peritoneum is by them lodging inside the lungs. They then move into the lymphatic system and get transported to the peritoneum. Constant exposure to asbestos leads to a great number of fibres being built up in the peritoneum.
The symptoms are generally only felt when the cancer has developed greatly. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pains and loss of appetite. As the cancer matures, the symptoms will become more pronounced and severe.
There are several treatments for primary peritoneal although all of them have a poor success rate. The likelihood of a patient surviving depends on how early and aggressively the cancer is treated. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery are the most commonly used methods of treatment. Research into the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma is being conducted in research stations in the United States and by many pharmaceutical companies.
One of the fatal kinds of mesothelioma is Peritoneal Mesothelioma in which the cancerous cells attack the Peritoneum, the lining of the abdomen. Peritoneum is a thin membrane, which surrounds various organs of the abdomen and also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma, also known as Primary Peritoneal, is nevertheless a relatively rare disease that accounts for about 1/5 of all mesotheliomas. Its only known cause in the U.S. till date is a previous exposure to asbestos.
Though Mesothelioma is neither age nor sex specific, peritoneal Mesothelioma is mostly seen in men in the age group of 50 to 70 years. There are a number of symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma most of which start appearing after 20, 30 or 50 years after the exposure to asbestos.
These symptoms may include weight loss (however, waist line may increase), pain or swelling in the abdomen, weakness, loss of appetite, bowel obstruction, anemia, nausea and fever. Also, fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space leading to a condition called Ascites.
Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma
The initial step towards detection of peritoneal mesothelioma includes X-rays and CT scans. For confirmed diagnosis, however the doctor needs to do biopsy whereby a piece of tissue is cut from the affected part of the victim’s body and is placed under microscope for examination. If the disease is detected at an early stage it stands better chance of getting cured than the state of diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma, where the cancer has already spread to various parts.
It’s true that peritoneal mesothelioma is fatal and leads to several deaths every year. However, with continued researches, several modes of treatments have been embarked upon and in the future there is a fair chance of the disease becoming absolutely curable. The types of treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
In surgery a part of the abdominal tissue is cut out to remove the tumor. At times the doctor may also need to remove a lung or a portion of the diaphragm as per the requirement of the surgery.
Radiation therapy, the second method, requires the application of high energy X-rays to shrink the tumor and kill the malignant cells. The rays may be applied from an external machine or by placing the radiation source directly to the affected part of the body, by means of plastic tubes. Last treatment type is the chemotherapy whereby a combination of drugs is applied to kill the cancer cells. The drugs may be administered by mouth in the capsule form or may be applied intravenously via needle.
However, it is essential to mention that cost of treating any form of cancer is extravagant and you may consult a mesothelioma lawyer to earn you a handsome compensation from the authority who was responsible for your prior exposure to asbestos.
So learn more about peritoneal mesothelioma so that you can initiate the treatment at the very early stage and get cured.
Primary Peritoneal Cancer or carcinoma is a cancer of the cells lining the peritoneum, or abdominal cavity. Despite the fact that precise causes are yet unknown, it is recognized an association with vascular endothelial growth factor. Prognosis and treatment is the same as for the most common variation of ovarian cancer, which is epithelial ovarian cancer. Elevated albumin levels have been associated with a more favorable prognosis. Because this the cancer does involve mesothelial cells and for that reason can be medically described as prymary mesothelioma.
