Types of Mesothelioma- Peritoneal-2
Diagnosing Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the protective coverings of the body's organs. The cancer can develop in the abdomen, the heart, and, most commonly, the lungs. For information about lung and heart mesothelioma, please see “Types of Mesothelioma – Pleural” and “Types of Mesothelioma – Pericardial.”
Peritoneal mesothelioma is mesothelioma cancer that develops in the covering of the organs in the abdomen. It is not nearly as common as pleural mesothelioma, and makes up less than one third of the cases of mesothelioma. Although it is not as common as pleural mesothelioma, it is just as serious.
Cancers of the mesothelium are extremely hazardous. Because they are often well developed by the time that they are diagnosed, treatment options are often limited. All forms of mesothelioma tumors respond poorly to treatment and, because of their location between the paper thin layers of the mesothelium, are difficult to remove surgically. The best chance of survival for peritoneal mesothelioma is when the patient can have the tumor fully removed surgically and then receive follow up treatment with chemotherapy and radiation.
Because the best chance of survival from mesothelioma is if the tumor is completely removed, a diagnosis made in the early stages of the disease is imperative. Doctors diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma in much the same way as other types of mesothelioma. The doctor will, after listening to your symptoms, likely question you about your occupational history. This is because traditionally on the job exposure presents the biggest risk of developing mesothelioma. If you do not believe that you experienced asbestos exposure on the job, but may have experienced it through other means, such as living in an older home, it is important to mention this to your doctor.
Symptoms that are warning signs of peritoneal mesothelioma include anemia, night sweats, fever, fluid in the abdomen and swelling of the feet. As peritoneal mesothelioma advances, bowel obstructions and digestive problems develop. Once your physician has determined that your health problem may be mesothelioma, he will perform some type of imaging scan. Each doctor has a preference, and some methods work better for some types of cancer, but a doctor may use x-rays, MRIs or CT scans to look into the abdominal cavity in order to see if there are tumors, and where they are located. These imaging scans often do not pick up the tumor until it is well developed.
How Asbestos Exposure Causes Cancer in the Abdominal Cavity
One question many people have about peritoneal mesothelioma is how it develops. We know that asbestos exposure is necessary for mesothelioma to develop. In cases of pleural mesothelioma we know that the asbestos exposure occurs when the fine asbestos particles are inhaled and settle into the lungs. There are various schools of thought on how peritoneal mesothelioma develops. Some researchers believe that the asbestos particles are ingested, by wiping the mouth or licking the lips when you have the microscopic particles on you. Once ingested, it is a short ride to the abdominal cavity. Other researchers believe that the asbestos particles are inhaled into the lungs, where they enter the bloodstream or lymph nodes and move through the body. Either one or both of these scenarios may be correct.
The exact mechanism behind asbestos exposure causing the development of mesothelioma is not fully understood. It is believed that asbestos in the body turns off a gene that is responsible for slowing or stopping the development of tumor cells. In addition, the asbestos particles themselves cause irritation and the overproduction of cells which leads to cancer.
What to Expect if You Develop Peritoneal Mesothelioma
A diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma can be very frightening. The survival time for all types of mesothelioma is around a year from the date of diagnosis. Hearing this can be overwhelming. Once you are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma medical tests and treatments will begin, leaving you little time to digest what is going on in your body.
After your doctor makes a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma you will be referred to an oncologist. Oncologists are doctors that specialize in the treatment of cancer. The oncologists first job will be to determine if the cancer has spread, and if so, how extensively. While peritoneal cancer is not staged in the same way as other cancers, the doctor will determine if the cancer is secluded to the original tumor site, if it has moved into adjacent organs, or if it has spread out of the abdominal cavity entirely. The degree in which the cancer has spread indicates the type of treatment protocol that you will receive.
In addition to the traditional method of categorizing peritoneal mesothelioma, the physician may also use a peritoneoscope to look into the abdominal cavity. This procedure, called a peritoneoscopy, is performed in a hospital setting, and allows the doctor an excellent view that is used to determine the location of the cancer and how localized it is.
Please see “Mesothelioma Overview” for general information about the disease.
