Mesothelioma is a relatively newer form of cancer. It is rare and aggravates at a very fast rate and is usually caused by unprotected exposure of an individual to asbestos. Of the several many cases that get diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the United States, most of them are found to be suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the abdomen in the cells of the lining surrounding the abdomen region. Peritoneum refers to the membrane around the organs of the stomach that help protect them. This membrane has two parts the perietal and the visceral layers. The first covers the abdominal cavity while the second surrounds the abdominal organs.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is the result of excessive and unregulated exposure to asbestos. It takes many years for the patient to show the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma but the cancer keeps developing from the time the asbestos fibers begin to clog the spaces between the mesothelial cells. Symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, differences in bowel habits, development of lumps and tumours along the inner lining of the body, fever and night sweats, tremendous weight loss, vomiting, nausea, fatigue and anemia.
A peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis cannot be conducted based on symptoms alone as these are symptoms that one associates with more commonly curable diseases. Thus the patients medical history and physical condition have to be gauged constantly following which a sophisticated diagnosis must be carried out these would normally include imaging the body cavity and testing the fluids and tissues of the body. A well carried out biopsy can tell for sure if the cancer is mesothelioma.
Though the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma is considerably difficult as it is often diagnosed only at its later stages when the cancer has developed to a great extent, doctors advice ways to combat the cancer and help to reduce pain that the patient might be experiencing. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are common measures adopted to treat mesothelioma though they are not the best option. These definitely help to kill cancerous cells and stop them from multiplying at a tremendous ra te however.
Since there is no definite treatment for mesothelioma of any kind, patients often choose a combination of treatments to go in for or sometimes even choose to participate in clinical trials so as to relieve themselves off pain and help to work on improving their quality of life. Clinical trials are studies that patients may take part in to test the new experimental medications and treatments. All treatments which might finally be adopted by a patient must have gone through a round of trials so the patient is sure that it is a safe and effective measure to avail of.
The latest treatment that is preferred by most patients of peritoneal mesothelioma is intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Medicines and anti cancer drugs are injected directly inside the abdomen following a surgery. In some cases patients can also choose to go in for radiation therapy before this measure to ensure all cancer cells are burnt down and the treatment will be more effective.
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