Peritoneal mesothelioma is also referred to as abdominal mesothelioma and it is a form of rear cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen causing fluid to build up. In the United States, only 100 to 500 cases of this illness are reported. Some of the signs that you can look out for to recognize this disease are weight loss, swelling or pain in the abdomen, fever, anemia and bowel obstruction. Some other symptoms may be minor and you may not realize them. The major cause of this diseased is believed to be the exposure to asbestos which can be ingested in the intestines or inhaled. However, there is no conclusive evidence that these is the cause and therefore nothing official.

If you suspect to have peritoneal mesothelioma, you are advised to see a doctor immediately to avert an imminent crisis. It has been reported that 70% to 80% of people who suffer from the illness have been exposed to asbestos at some point in their lives. Patients are advised to mention if they have come into contact with the substance. It is very difficult to diagnose the illness. The first thing a doctor orders is a chest and an abdomen x ray. Then the lungs are tested because the tumor forms near the organs to cause shortness of breath. Usually a thoracoscopy is performed. This is a test that is done that sees an object called a thoracoscope inserted in the chest cavity to search for the disease. The patient is under local anesthesia and the procedure is usually painless.

In the same way, the doctor may look inside the abdomen but, this procedure is called peritoneoscopy. Also the patient is put under local anesthesia. Both procedures are done in a hospital. During these procedures, a biopsy is usually done. A biopsy is the testing of a sample tissue under a microscope, to find out whether there are cancer cells. Therefore, some tissues of the affected area are usually cut to provide the samples. There are a lot of wrong diagnosis for peritoneal mesothelioma because of the complex nature in diagonizing it. Peritoneal mesothelioma is fatal depending on the size of the cancer. There are treatments available and with the right follow up, a patient can recover totally.

There are several treatment options and, they include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and others. Surgery is one of the best way to cure a malignant tumor and, there are several ways to do it with surgery. There are over 5 surgical procedures to treat peritoneal mesothelioma. High energy gamma rays and x rays are used to treat the disease and this therapy is called radiation. There are several kinds of radiation treatments and according to the uniqueness of each case, many treatments are administered. A patient can be treated using drugs to kill the cancer and this is called chemotherapy. The drugs can be administered orally or through injections. Some of these treatments can leave a patient very weak. Another side effect is loss of hair.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum is a membranous layer comprising the parietal and visceral layers protecting the abdominal cavity and abdominal organs. There are four categories that will determine the stage of the mesothelioma. Category one shows a solitary tumor which can be removed. The second indicates that the cancer is already within the abdominal cavity. The third category evinces the invasion of other organs like colon and liver. The final one shows complete penetration of cancer to the outside abdominal cavity.

In diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma, there will be the usual physical examination and imaging tests like x-rays and CT scan. Likewise, there is a need to extract fluid or tissue from the peritoneum to check if it is indeed malignant. The findings will reveal whether the mesothelioma is dry or wet. If the result of the examination yields to a dry-type cancer, it means that there are multiple small masses or only one dominant localized mass. There will be small amount of ascites or none at all. Ascites refers to the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. But if the cancer is wet-type, there will be small nodules and the ascites is apparent. In the latter case, the fluid will be removed through paracentesis.

There are two supporting theories behind the role of asbestos to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma. The first theory provides that when the asbestos fibers are absorbed by the body, they pass through the digestive organs all the way to the peritoneal membrane. The second theory explains that when asbestos fibers draw deep into the lungs, they work their way to the peritoneal membrane through the lymphatic system. But irrespective of the manner the asbestos gains access to the peritoneal layers, the fibers are stuck in the membrane and gradually cause damage to the mesothelial cells of the peritoneum.

There is no known cure for peritoneal mesothelioma. But specialists have introduced intraperitoneal chemotherapy, an innovative treatment which gives better result than the normal mesothelioma surgery. This is done usually after debulking surgery which involves the removal of all the tumors in the area. Still, the prognosis may not be good. However, for possible long term survival, the patients must have a complete cytoreduction. It means that there should be no peritoneal seeding and the nodules must be less than 2.5 centimeters. Otherwise, clinical trials for palliative treatment to lessen the pain will be the alternative.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a tumor of the membrane Peritoneum. The peritoneum is a thin membrane in the organs in the abdomen consisting of mesothelial cells.

This Mesothelioma is associated to coming about from having previous exposure to asbestos, and in many cases is found through routine abdominal xrays and CT scans showing something different than normal.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma can stay dormant in your body for many years, before it will be seen, and for this reason many people years after they have been exposed to asbestos will be diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma. About 20% of all mesotheliomas are of the Peritoneal type, and they can be of two types: malignant and benign.

What are the Symptons of this type of Mesothelioma?

- abdominal pains

- weakness

- weight loss

- loss of appetite

- nausea

- abdominal swelling

The symptoms become more severe over time and should be checked out by a doctor. If they do not, they will cause increasing pressure on your abdomen organs, causing much discomfort, and will lead to bowel obstruction and distention.

How is peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosed? A peritoneoscopy is performed, and if there is a reason to be concerned, a biopsy is performed. A biopsy is the process of taking a piece of tissue to be given to a pathologist for analysis. The pathologist uses a microscope to analyse the tissue and make the actual diagnosis.

Currently, it is still unknown why Asbestos causes the mesothelial cells to be cancerous, and it is unsure how many fibers are needed for the tumor to occur. Many treatments exist for peritoneal mesothelioma, however a cure has yet to be found.

What are some of the treatments available for this type of Mesothelioma?

- chemotherapy

- radiation therapy

- surgery.

If you are feeling any of the symptoms noted above, ensure you have it checked out early. The earlier the diagnosis of Peritoneal Mesothelioma, the better chance the treatments will be effective.

One of the fatal types of mesothelioma is Peritoneal Mesothelioma in which the cancerous cells attack the lining of the abdomen called Peritoneum. Peritoneum is the thin membrane, which shields various organs of the abdomen and also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly. Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which affects this lining, is yet now a relatively rare disease that accounts for about 1/5 of all mesotheliomas. Its only known cause in the U.S. till date is previous exposure to asbestos.

Major symptoms

Though Mesothelioma is neither age nor sex specific, peritoneal Mesothelioma is mostly seen in men who are in the age group of 50-70 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.

The cure

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.

Mesothelioma is dangerous and often painful cancer which takes place when asbestos fibers gather in the chest cavity for more time and start to damage the mesothelium. Mesothelium is a protective cover which covers the heart, lungs and abdomen. Symptoms of mesothelioma are mild or non-existent in the earlier stages of the disease.

There are three types of Mesothelioma:

- Pleural Mesothelioma
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Pericardial Mesothelioma

Subtypes of mesothelioma

- Metastatic Mesothelioma
- Malignant Mesothelioma

About Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

It is an incredibly dangerous disease. It is a destructive cancer which structure in the important membrane like stomach, liver and intestines. The peritoneum, membranous layer of the mesothelium protects as well as covers several abdominal organs inclusion of the stomach, liver and intestines.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

- Swelling and abdominal pain
- Chronic diarrhea or constipation
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness and fatigue
- Vomiting and chronic nausea
- Noticeable lumps on the abdomen
- Night sweats and weight loss

Treatments of Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

Chemotherapy: In this treatment, powerful drugs are used to kill the cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading. But these drugs may also kill the healthy cells of body and bring a number of serious health side-effects to your body.

Radiation therapy: In this treatment x-rays are used to break down tumors and kill cancerous cells. Like with chemotherapy welcomes painful side effects and in this treatment there is a major chance that the radiation may also harm healthy cells.

Surgery: It is the most invasive and drastic option that removes the tumor as well as cancerous tissue. It is often used in the direst circumstances.

There are several tests that doctors can run to determine if a patient has a Peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis. These tests vary in terms of intrusion into the body and accuracy. A time line for testing a person suspected of having Peritoneal mesothelioma is as follows:

When a patient first presents at the doctors office complaining of difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, or pneumonia types symptoms, the primary care physician will take an X-ray or CT scan to determine the presence of asbestos in or around the lungs, heart or stomach.

Once the detection of asbestos is noted, the doctor will look for tell tale signs of cancer including but not limited to the presence of tumors around the vital organs. If tumors or growths are detected, the primary care physician will typically refer the patient to a specialist for various tests to determine whether there is a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis is generally tested for in one of two ways. Depending on the condition of the patient, the doctor may want to do a minimally intrusive procedure called a needle biopsy. The procedure allows the doctor to abstract cells suspected of cancer infection from the lining affected area. The doctor can run tests on the mesothelial cells to determine the proper diagnosis for the patient. There are several ways in which the doctor can perform a tissue biopsy in order to run tests for mesothelioma. A thoracoscopy or laparoscopy entails making a small incision and using a tiny camera to look at the affected area. At this time a small tissue sample can be taken. The tissue samples will be sent away to a pathologists for further tests. Your doctor may decide to do a needle biopsy, where a hollow needle is inserted through the skin and into the chest cavity. However, needle biopsies can be less than precise.

The second more common way that doctors test for Peritoneal mesothelioma is to surgically enter the patients body, at which time they cut a small piece of infected tissue for biopsy purposes. This test is known as an "open biopsy". The abstracted tissue is then sent out for testing by a specialist. This process generally takes several days. If this test reveals the presence of mesothelioma the doctor will determine whether the diagnosed mesothelioma is benign or malignant.

If the doctor determines that the mesothelioma diagnosis is malignant, they will likely refer the patient to an oncologist (cancer doctor) for further tests and treatment.

The oncologist will test the patient to determine the progression of the mesothelioma and the prognosis for the future. At this time the oncologist will decide what treatment option is best for the patient.

Generally, the oncologist will start the patient on a series of chemotherapy treatments to slow the growth of the mesothelioma. If the doctor determines, after running tests, that the patient is not a candidate for chemotherapy, the oncologists may prescribe medication to help the patient with pain management.

Most great cases of mesothelioma are either in pleural or peritoneal form. Mesothelioma is not such a forgiving disease. Many people that contract the disease have been known to live for only a a year and not more.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is rare and quite different from the other type of mesothelioma, its said to affect the abdominal lining(peritoneum). Peritoneal mesothelioma take up only 30% of all the mesothelioma cases reported.

The disease takes such a long time to develop and with symptoms that are quite similar to many other less serious types of ailments. When a person is diagnosed their chances of surviving the disease are very small. The disease is said to be so lethal to the point that survival chances are limited to just a few months. But fortunately peritoneal mesothelioma is treatable and the treatment largely depends on the cancer stage, Age and overall health of the patient. But of course if detected in its early stages treatment can increase your survival chances ten fold.

Treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma include>

Surgery> surgery is the most common form of treatment option for malignant types of mesothelioma. The Doctor removes part of the lining for the abdomen and some of the tissue around it. Surgery depends largely on the extent the cancer has spread in the body.

Below are 2 of the surgical procedures administered to peritoneal mesothelioma patients.

Pleurectomy: A surgery is conducted to remove the abdomen lining and and some of the tissue surrounding it. This procedure is performed for a variety of disorders including pleural effusion, malignant pleural mesothelioma, and trauma.

Pleurectomy/decortication: A surgery is conducted to remove a a part of the abdomen lining(peritoneal) and as much of the tumor mass as possible. This procedure can be performed to reduce pain caused by the tumor mass. This form of surgery can be generally aimed at relieving symptoms, such as recurrent ascites or bowel obstruction.

Chemotherapy: This type of treatment is administered to help kill the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy can be taken in the form of pills or through syringes. Chemotherapy is also known as systematic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body.

Radiotherapy: This form of treatment is administered in the form of High-energy x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and other sources of radiation are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Studies have shown that using only a single one of the treatments listed above have listed to fail to improve the conditions of the patients. Instead combining all of the above options has been known to improve the patents chances of surviving.

Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the abdominal lining and is a rare form of malignant cancers affecting lesser number of people than pleural mesothelioma. The peritoneum is made up of two parts such as visceral peritoneum that covers the internal organs and parietal peritoneum that covers the abdominal cavity. The cells in these two layers secrete fluid that helps in the movement of organs inside the abdomen. However, if the cells become malignant it overproduces causing excess fluid in the abdomen. It is widely believed that, risk factor associated with peritoneal mesothelioma is asbestos. Asbestos particles make their entry into the body either through ingestion or inhalation and reaches peritoneum through the lymphatic system causing malignancy of the cellular lining of abdomen.

The early signs of Peritoneal Mesothelioma include:

* Increased weight loss due to low intake of food

* Night sweats often accompanied with fever

* Increased abdominal girth coupled with bouts of abdominal pain and indigestion

* Extreme fatigue, fever and anemic condition

Tests and Diagnoses:

Based on symptoms doctors cannot ascertain presence of peritoneal mesothelioma but goes for medical investigations ranging from x-rays to CT scans to MRI. These imaging tests and studies help in the detection of the disease and also aids in knowing the stage and metastases of the cancer.

But, it is the biopsy that ultimately confirms the disease- either a fluid aspiration biopsy or a tissue biopsy. If the cancer is detected early it helps to cure it faster because as the cancer advances to diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma the cancer cells invade other body parts as well.

Treatment Methods:

The disease is very difficult to diagnose at early stages. One of the approaches is intra-peritoneal chemotherapy. In this method of treatment, following surgery, drugs are induced directly into the abdomen. In some cases, radiation therapy is done to shrink the tumors before surgery is done.

But, it is the cytoreductive surgery called debulking that is done. Although surgery is considered to be the first line of treatment yet it is not done for all patients. If the patients' physical health is failing, a surgical operation is enervating. In these cases, it is the palliative approach that works best. This therapy, simply works to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for the patients with chemotherapeutic drugs.

High-energy radiation is also used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma, but is not used alone. Radiation therapy is mostly followed by surgery and use of palliative

Chemotherapy drugs.

Latest Advancements:

There are ongoing clinical trials and experiments such as immunotherapy, gene therapy and usage of antiangiogenesis drugs for treating the cancer. Multi-modality approach often proved to be useful in certain cases and intracavitary chemotherapy and radiation therapy are subjects of further research and tests.

Mesothelioma tumors of the peritoneum include benign, malignant and cystic.

Although peritoneal mesothelioma is the most common of these, it is very rare with an annual incidence of 1-2 cases per million persons. Only 10-20 percent of all mesotheliomas arise in the peritoneum. Peritoneal malignant mesothelioma occurs more commonly in adult males but also occurs rarely in children with equal sex incidence.

Malignant mesothelioma occurs mainly late in the fifth decade of life, the benign type in the fourth decade and the cystic type in the third decade. The non malignant type are common in women.

Cause
The link with asbestos exposure which is well established for pleural mesothelioma is not clear for peritoneal mesothelioma.

Symptoms and Signs
-Abdominal pain which may not be limited to any specific region of the abdomen but may be migratory.
-Abdominal distention and complaints associated with partial bowel obstruction are frequent
-Ascites (fluid in the abdomen,) may be present
-Abdominal mass/swelling may be present

Diagnosis
-CT scans frequently show tumor masses and ascites (fluid in the abdomen)
-Laparatomy and laparoscopy for multiple biopsies {the surgeon opens up the abdomen surgically to look into the peritoneum directly and take samples}

Treatment of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
It is treated with combination therapy:
A. Peritoneal radioactive P32 followed by whole abdomen radiation is used often
B. Chemotherapy:Combination chemotherapy with doxorubicin is a very important secondary component.
C. Surgery:Surgical treatment is done mainly to debulk (reduce the size of the tumor by cutting of parts of the tumor,) and treatment of intestinal obstruction.

Prognosis of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
The prognosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is dismal with median survival of about 1 year after presentation. Death usually results from progressive bowel obstruction.

Mesothelioma is a form a cancer that affects the lining around a particular internal organ. Generically, this lining is called the mesothelium, but goes also goes by a name that's more specific to its respective organ. The pleura, for example, is the lining around the lungs, and pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease. Another common form affects the peritoneum, which is the membrane lining the abdominal cavity. This is called peritoneal mesothelioma.

Most cases of meso-70 to 80%-are cause by asbestos that's inhaled or otherwise ingested. Some types of works sites are inherently prone to asbestos exposure, such as older houses being renovated. Asbestos has been largely out of production in the United States for nearly 40 years, when the evidence linking the disease with the material between too abundant to ignore, but unfortunately, mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years between exposure and the first symptoms manifesting themselves.

In peritoneal mesothelioma, asbestos fibers lodge themselves into the mesothelium, and remain in place for years, causing inflammation. Over time, this continual inflammation results in the development of mesothelioma tumors that spread to cover the whole abdominal cavity.

Abdominal swelling due to fluid buildup (ascites) is the symptom that's usually noticed first. Other symptoms include vomiting, appetite loss, stomach pain, rapid weight loss, nausea, blood clotting in the legs, and obstruction in the bowels. If the cancer cells in the local tumors metastasize, then the malignant peritoneal mesothelioma can travel upward from the abdominal cavity to put pressure on the throat, making it hard to breath or swallow.

Chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the peritoneum, the layer of protective tissue surrounding the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma is usually caused by asbestos, whose fibers attach themselves to internal organs when inhaled or ingested. Where most asbestos fibers are straight flakes, the fibers in chrysotile asbestos have a spiral configuration that makes them lodge into organs and cause long-term inflammation that eventually becomes cancerous.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include vomiting, nausea, appetite loss, clotting of the legs, anemia, fever, bowel obstruction and abdominal swelling-which is usually the first symptom that gets noticed. The swelling is caused by a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which happens concurrently with the formation of mesothelioma tumors in the same region. If the tumor cells metastasize, the malignant peritoneal mesothelioma often spreads throughout the abdomen up through the respiratory system, resulting in mesothelioma lung cancer, and putting pressure on the throat, making it difficult to swallow.

The condition is difficult to diagnose initially, in part due to the symptoms having so much in common with other gastrointestinal problems, but mainly due to the long latency period of disease. It can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years between the patient's first exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms becoming evident.

Legal Issues

Since the 1970's, mesothelioma litigation has skyrocketed, especially in the US. This is due in large part to asbestos regulation finally becoming a reality with the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, and the first successful asbestos lawsuit against a company in 1973: Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation.

There are three main ways in which meso claims are handled. The first option is an individual lawsuit, which often ends with an out of court settlement. The Wall Street Journal reported that, according to the lawyers they interviewed, that the average mesothelioma settlement was $1,000,000; and that if the case went to trial, the average judgment was $6,000,000. However, this average has been hard to confirm. A review of settlements published online shows a range of settlement amounts ranging from four-figure to seven-figure checks.

The second option is a class action, in which a suit is file for an entire group (class) of plaintiffs. Many or most of the individuals named as part of the class action aren't aware of their involvement until they're notified by mail, at which point they have the option to opt out of the suit. Opting out may be in their best interest, since their award is potentially much lower than it could be for a claim made in the future. Since mesothelioma takes decades for its effects to fully take hold, the medical costs will likely be out of reach by the average patient without being able to sue the responsible company for compensation. Class action participants who win a settlement or judgment today waive their right to sue the company in the future.

Finally, victims can receive compensation from a mesothelioma settlement trust. Since asbestos has been out of production since 1975, most of the companies responsible for their employees' asbestos exposure have claimed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Companies that were sued and found liable prior to filing for bankruptcy usually set up settlement trusts that pay a portion of new claims that are brought to them. The attorney fills out a claim form for the client and submits it to the trustee. Settlement trusts typically pay 5-15% of the claim amount. One of the benefits of going through a trust is that it's a fairly straightforward process: there are no judges, defense attorneys or medical experts to deal with.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, also known as asbestos lung cancer, is a relatively uncommon form of mesothelioma cancer, accounting for less than a quarter of all mesothelioma cases. It is called peritoneal because it appears as a tumor in the peritoneum membrane of the abdomen.

Causes
Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of this disease in the USA. Patients afflicted with Peritoneal Mesothelioma have inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers usually through work related activities. Symptoms do not occur until 20 to 40 years after contact with the mineral and its by products. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is often fatal and patients who are afflicted by it live on average of less than a year from the time of their diagnosis.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Symptoms may include abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, a change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation, lumps of tissue in the abdomen and unexplained weight loss.

Diagnostic Tools
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is first detected by X-rays or CT scans, peritoneoscopy (analysis of the peritoneum) or a biopsy where a tissue sample in taken for examination by a pathologist.

Treatment Options
Localized treatments treat only the original cancer site by either surgery or radiotherapy. A peritonectomy is a surgery used when peritoneal mesothelioma is detected early on. However, the symptoms are usually detected only in the most advanced stages because of the gradual development of symptoms. Complete removal of the caner through surgery is doubtful even in the earliest stages of the disease. The first 30 days following surgery are crucial. Unfortunately, the post surgery death rate for this operation is very high. Many patients do not make it through the procedure. With this in mind, many medical centers do not choose surgery as a viable treatment option plan at this time.

Regional chemotherapy is used in peritoneal mesothelioma cases, when the cancer is still localized at its point of origin. This option treatment is employed in both early and late stages of the disease using anti-cancer drugs. The drugs are injected directly into the abdomen. Patients undergo weekly or biweekly treatments depending upon the specific drugs used.

An additional procedure known as adjuvant chemotherapy, (regional chemotherapy) can be used directly following surgery in order to reduce the likelihood of the cancer returning. However, when the cancer cannot be entirely removed through surgery, chemotherapy will continue throughout the existence of the cancer in an attempt to slow its development.

A second type of treatment known as systemic treatments are used when the cancer has metastasized (spread throughout the body). Systematic treatments are implemented in either earlier stages or late stages of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Since peritoneal mesothelioma often remains dormant for years, the cancer is usually detected in its end stages. At this point patients are too ill to handle intensive chemotherapy. Doctors choose non-aggressive palliative care treatments at this time. Treatment goals are concentrated on remedying pain, discomfort and weight loss rather than attacking the disease head on. One type of pain common in the late states of this disease is caused by fluid buildup inside the abdomen. Doctors will attempt to reduce the pain and discomfort by draining the excess fluid through a procedure called abdominal paracentesis.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, also known as asbestos lung cancer, is a relatively uncommon form of mesothelioma cancer, accounting for less than a quarter of all mesothelioma cases. It is called peritoneal because it appears as a tumor in the peritoneum membrane of the abdomen.

Causes
Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of this disease in the USA. Patients afflicted with Peritoneal Mesothelioma have inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers usually through work related activities. Symptoms do not occur until 20 to 40 years after contact with the mineral and its by products. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is often fatal and patients who are afflicted by it live on average of less than a year from the time of their diagnosis.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Symptoms may include abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, a change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation, lumps of tissue in the abdomen and unexplained weight loss.

Diagnostic Tools
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is first detected by X-rays or CT scans, peritoneoscopy (analysis of the peritoneum) or a biopsy where a tissue sample in taken for examination by a pathologist.

Treatment Options
Localized treatments treat only the original cancer site by either surgery or radiotherapy. A peritonectomy is a surgery used when peritoneal mesothelioma is detected early on. However, the symptoms are usually detected only in the most advanced stages because of the gradual development of symptoms. Complete removal of the caner through surgery is doubtful even in the earliest stages of the disease. The first 30 days following surgery are crucial. Unfortunately, the post surgery death rate for this operation is very high. Many patients do not make it through the procedure. With this in mind, many medical centers do not choose surgery as a viable treatment option plan at this time.

Regional chemotherapy is used in peritoneal mesothelioma cases, when the cancer is still localized at its point of origin. This option treatment is employed in both early and late stages of the disease using anti-cancer drugs. The drugs are injected directly into the abdomen. Patients undergo weekly or biweekly treatments depending upon the specific drugs used.

An additional procedure known as adjuvant chemotherapy, (regional chemotherapy) can be used directly following surgery in order to reduce the likelihood of the cancer returning. However, when the cancer cannot be entirely removed through surgery, chemotherapy will continue throughout the existence of the cancer in an attempt to slow its development.

A second type of treatment known as systemic treatments are used when the cancer has metastasized (spread throughout the body). Systematic treatments are implemented in either earlier stages or late stages of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Since peritoneal mesothelioma often remains dormant for years, the cancer is usually detected in its end stages. At this point patients are too ill to handle intensive chemotherapy. Doctors choose non-aggressive palliative care treatments at this time. Treatment goals are concentrated on remedying pain, discomfort and weight loss rather than attacking the disease head on. One type of pain common in the late states of this disease is caused by fluid buildup inside the abdomen. Doctors will attempt to reduce the pain and discomfort by draining the excess fluid through a procedure called abdominal paracentesis.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is differ from pleural mesothelioma according to the place of growing tumors. In the peritoneal cancer the tumors develop on the peritoneum. What is the peritoneum? The peritoneum is the outer membrane surrounds the outer wall of some internal organs in the abdominal cavity. Complete this article to discover the improtant information on that cancer and where to treat it.

How does it develop? The scientists can't know exactly how this type of cancer occur, but the closest prospect explains that the inhalation of Asbestos is the main reason for this cancer. After the inhalation of asbestos, these materials move from the chest to the abdominal cavity throughout the blood stream.

The above information will take us to the word "Asbestos", what are Asbestos? Asbestos are some types of materials that were used in the past for the construction manufacturing. Workers that were dealing with these materials are the most people who can develop mesothelioma.

The malignant peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is less common but still a very dangerous disease. The symptoms of this disease take very long time to appear "23-50 years", after this very long period the symptoms can be something like abdominal swelling, abdomen pains, general weakness and bowel obstruction "due to the growth of tumors".

The treatment options here can be surgery, chemotherapy "by using some drugs" and radiation therapy by using some kinds of radiations like x-rays and gamma rays. The early diagnosis of mesothelioma will help in the treatment process. For anyone who have work in the construction manufacturing companies that were using Asbestos in their products, you must make a check up instantly.

Background:

"Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs." The disease then proceeds to affect the abdomen wall or in this case, the peritoneum. It then goes on to infect a serious of membranes in the region as well as the membranes that enclose several other major organs. Mesothelioma is most oftenly found in people who have in some way inhaled asbestos particles or other airborn particles at their job or place of residence. Although, there is no connection between mesothelioma and smoking, which is a major factor in lung cancer. While smoking has not been proven to cause mesothelioma, it has been found to increase the risk of other asbestos-induce cancer. Of the 2.6 million annually diagnosed cases of mesolthelioma, 15% to 20% are peritoneal mesothelioma.

Asbestos

"Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long thin fibrous crystals." This naturally occurring substance has been used in fire retardant coatings, bricks, pipes, drywall, and roofing. Its importance became known during the Industrial Revolution and is now being utilized in various ways. Although this mineral has numerous practical appliances, it does have very hazardous effects on the body. If inhaled, asbestos particles are known to cause very serious and potentially fatal diseases such as lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Various other minor effects of asbestos exposure include asbestos warts, pleural plaques, and diffuse pleural thickening. While these conditions can all be a results of asbestos exposure, malignant "peritoneal" mesothelioma is the most deadly. Basically, mesothelioma is a lethal cancer that "attacks the membranes around the lungs, the heart, and the abdominal cavity." Of the various forms of this cancer, mesothelioma of the lung is most common. Mesothelioma of the lung, much like that of lung cancer, is a very deadly and underdiagnosed disease because of the very subtle symptoms. Fortunately for those who have inhaled asbestos fibers, it takes years for the fibers to infect the membranes and then cause fluid accumulation and even tumor development. Asbestos particles are extremely harmful for they can result in the development of lethal diseases.