Mesothelioma Symptoms, Mesothelioma Types and Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

                             WHAT IS PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA?

    The peritoneum is a thin,cushioning membrane that protects      the abdomen and is comprised of two parts; the visceral and
parietal peritoneum. The parietal peritoneum is the outer layer
and is connected to the wall of the abdomen. The visceral mesotheliomafacts.me
peritoneum is the inner layer that surrounds the organs within the abdominal cavity.The area between the parietal and visceral peritoneum is filled with serous fluid that assists the abdominal organs in their movement. Peritoneal mesothelioma, also known as malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, is the second most common form of mesothelioma.Peritoneal mesothelioma can also
invade the lungs which is then diagnosed as secondary lung cancer. There are about 200 to 400 new cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year and unfortunately the survival rate of peritoneal mesothelioma is low but the earlier it is detected the higher the survival rate. In most cases those diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma have up to 1.5 years to live and in extreme cases the survival time could be as high as five years or 9% of all cases . Most cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are diagnosed during the latent stages of this type of cancer thus making it difficult to prolong the lives of those infected. The majority of peritoneal mesothelioma cases are caused from exposure to asbestos.

                   WHO IS AT RISK FOR PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA?

    The highest risk occupations for peritoneal mesothelioma include: home re modelers, construction workers,insulation manufacturers, insulation installers, automotive and railroad workers, gas mask manufacturers, some factory workers where asbestos is used and some miners. Just because you do not work in these industries does not mean you are not at risk for peritoneal mesothelioma; asbestos fibers may be attached to the clothes of these workers and carried into the household. Peritoneal mesothelioma may take 20 to 50 years to develop; much depends on how much asbestos you were exposed to. Since the latency in diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma most cases appear in people between the ages of 50 to 70 years old.

                            PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS

    Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms maybe confused with many other ailments at first due to its latent nature in developing. Usually several weeks or months can pass before a correct diagnosis can be made. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms initially appear no different than other symptoms such as a stomach ache or the flu.The symptoms below may point to peritoneal mesothelioma and it is recommended that you see a doctor and tell him your work history or possible exposure to asbestos.

    In a study conducted by Dr. Philipe Chahinian, a leading oncologist, conducted five studies in peritoneal mesothelioma patients who encountered the symptoms listed below in varying degrees;

Abdominal pain 63%
Abdominal mass 40%
Increased abdominal girth 70%
Ascites(fluid in the abdomen) 66%
Digestive disturbances 33%
Fever 20%
Weight loss 44%
Thrombocytosis 23%
Leukocytosis (elevated white blood cell count) 50%

                                PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA STAGES

    Currently there is no staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma. For related information for a potential staging system please visit this link:

             Peritoneal Staging Systems from Journal of Oncology

                             PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT

The treatments for peritoneal mesothelioma mainly consist of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Usually peritoneal mesothelioma requires a combination of these treatments and some are used more than others depending on the individual. There are also peritoneal mesothelioma clinical trials that may also provide another alternative to the peritoneal mesothelioma patient. These clinical trials may provide new and promising treatments for the peritoneal mesothelioma patient.