Peritoneal Mesothelioma – It’s Not a Stomachache
Despite cancer being a well-known disease affecting all countries around the world, there are still forms of cancer that are rare and not well understood by many people around the world. One example of a rare cancer is peritoneal mesothelioma. The video that follows below provides a very good description of this condition…
What is Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that originates from the mesothelium, or the protective linings in the body. For this cancer, the affected mesothelium is the peritoneum that is the lining that covers the organs in the abdomen. Of all mesothelioma cases, peritoneal is the second most common. Of all patients who have mesothelioma, between 20 and 25 percent develop cancer in their peritoneum.
What are the symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
For this form of mesothelioma, the following symptoms are often experienced:
• Fever
• Nausea
• Problems with your bowel movement
• Fatigue or excessive tiredness
• Pain and swelling in the abdominal area
• Anemia and blood clots
• Abdominal lumps
• Reduced appetite
• Build-up of fluid in the abdominal area – called as ascites
• Seizures
For this cancer, there is a tendency for a person to not exhibit symptoms. If the individual does experience the symptoms noted above, many doctors may mistake those for some other condition because some of the symptoms are also found in other diseases. What helps doctors diagnose the symptoms to be peritoneal mesothelioma is the fact that patients have ascites. This symptom makes the patient look like they have a stomach that is bulging outwards. Some doctors may make a mistake by suggesting a different diagnosis such as stomachache or hernia.
The Anatomy of a Person with Mesothelioma
The following things are happening inside the body of a person that has this type of mesothelioma:
• When a person ingests asbestos, its fibers are deposited and stuck in the peritoneum.
• Being a foreign object, the body will try to eliminate these fibers. The body will not always be successful in removing these fibers. The remaining traces of asbestos will then irritate the peritoneum.
• The lining becomes scarred due to irritation. This influences the cells in the affected area to divide abnormally. Over time, this will result in the formation of a tumor.
How can Asbestos Caused Cancer be diagnosed?
There are two methods that can be used to arrive at the proper diagnosis. These methods are as follows:
• X-ray – this is considered the best imaging tool to determine this form of cancer. This is because other imaging tests such as the CT scan and MRI do not provide enough information, making doctors associate it with simple abdominal distention due to gas.
• Peritoneoscopy – this is a medical procedure that aims to examine the individual’s peritoneum. This procedure is executed by making an incision on the abdominal area and inserting a small camera that is used to examine the peritoneum. Additionally, the camera comes with another tool whose purpose is to collect a small amount of tissue from the peritoneum. This will be examined to determine if the patient has mesothelioma.
Treatment options
Once the patient is diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma they can undergo a variety of treatments. Two of the most common treatments for this type of cancer are as follows:
• Chemotherapy – this is done by exposing the target cells to drugs which can reduce the size of the cancer and lower the chances of these cells spreading to other parts of the body.
• Cytoreduction surgery – in this form of treatment, the individual undergoes surgery which is aimed at removing the peritoneum affected with the cancer cell. Additionally, tumors in the area that can be removed safely are removed.
The Anatomy of a Person with Mesothelioma
The following things are happening inside the body of a person that has this type of mesothelioma:
• When a person ingests asbestos, its fibers are deposited and stuck in the peritoneum.
• Being a foreign object, the body will try to eliminate these fibers. The body will not always be successful in removing these fibers. The remaining traces of asbestos will then irritate the peritoneum.
• The lining becomes scarred due to irritation. This influences the cells in the affected area to divide abnormally. Over time, this will result in the formation of a tumor.
How can Asbestos Caused Cancer be diagnosed?
There are two methods that can be used to arrive at the proper diagnosis. These methods are as follows:
• X-ray – this is considered the best imaging tool to determine this form of cancer. This is because other imaging tests such as the CT scan and MRI do not provide enough information, making doctors associate it with simple abdominal distention due to gas.
• Peritoneoscopy – this is a medical procedure that aims to examine the individual’s peritoneum. This procedure is executed by making an incision on the abdominal area and inserting a small camera that is used to examine the peritoneum. Additionally, the camera comes with another tool whose purpose is to collect a small amount of tissue from the peritoneum. This will be examined to determine if the patient has mesothelioma.
Treatment options
Once the patient is diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma they can undergo a variety of treatments. Two of the most common treatments for this type of cancer are as follows:
• Chemotherapy – this is done by exposing the target cells to drugs which can reduce the size of the cancer and lower the chances of these cells spreading to other parts of the body.
• Cytoreduction surgery – in this form of treatment, the individual undergoes surgery which is aimed at removing the peritoneum affected with the cancer cell. Additionally, tumors in the area that can be removed safely are removed.
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