> Surgery as Treatment Option for Lung Cancer - Risks of Lung Cancer Surgery, Questions to Ask your Doctor, Surgery Pictures
(October 9th, 2009)

> Researchers Seek Clinical Trial Patients for New Mesothelioma Drug: Gefitinib
(September 25th, 2009)

> Secondary Cancer in the Lymph Nodes - Role of Lymph Nodes in the Body & the Lymphatic System
(September 18th, 2009)

> Talcum Powder Slows Down Growth of Lung Cancer Tumors
(September 15th, 2009)

> Carbon Nanotubes that Look and Behave like Asbestos could cause Pleural Mesothelioma
(September 11th, 2009)

> Chest X-Rays Can Detect Early Lung Cancer, but also Alert many False-Positive Results
(September 7th, 2009)

> Peritoneal Mesothelioma – Cancer of the Peritoneum or Linings of the Abdomen - Symptoms of Peritoneal Lung Cancer, Role of Asbestos & Treatment Options
(August 31st, 2009)

> History and Advent of Cancer Treating Chemotherapy – Nitrogen Mustard as Anti-Cancer drug, Invention of Red Clover to treat Respiratory & Malignant Lung Cancers
(August 30th, 2009)

> Intra-peritoneal Therapy – Delivery of Chemotherapy Drugs in to Abdominal Cavity, Port and Catheter
(August 30th, 2009)

> Chemical Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions or Fluids in Lungs
(August 26th, 2009)

> Evaluation of Pleural Thickening and its Effects on Development of Malignant Lung Cancer
(August 23rd, 2009)

> Chest X-Ray – Uses of Chest X-Rays, How to Prepare for X-Ray Session, Performance, Risks & Results, and Normal versus Abnormal Results
(August 15th, 2009)

> Multi-cystic Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum - Examinaton of the Pelvis, Abdominal Mass using Ultrasound, Process of Hysterectomy by a Gynecologist
(August 5th, 2009)

* > Mesothelioma Lung Cancer & Effects on Army, Navy & Marine Veterans - Asbestos Exposure in Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Submarines and Navy Ships
(May 18th, 2009)

* Ruth Phillips - 10 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Living Large - Discussion of Immuno-Augmentive Therapy & Other Cancer Treatments
(May 5th, 2009)

* Prevention of Lung Cancer when You are at Risk, or when You Already Have Lung Cancer
(April 27th, 2009)

* Research Suggests Vitamin D Plays a Large Role in Preventing and Fighting Lung Cancer
(April 21st, 2009)

* What Types of Lung Cancer Exist? Differences between Small Cell & Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer
(April 15th, 2009)

* Steve Lee, 63, from Reading UK, Completes Half Marathon with Asbestos Lung Cancer
(April 8th, 2009)

* Basic & Advanced Symptoms of Mesothelioma & Common Misconceptions
(March 28th, 2009)

* Choosing Your Mesothelioma Doctor - Medical & Radiation Oncologists, Laparoscopic Surgeons
(February 4th, 2009)

* Study Suggests Computed Tomography (CT) Scans Increase Risk for Cancer Development - Mesothelioma News
(November 30th, 2008)

* Diagnosing Mesothelioma & Pathological Testing
(February 6th, 2009)

* Eat Fruits & Vegetables - Prevent Cancer and Stay Healthy
(January 12th, 2009)

* Gardening & Good Diet Leads to Less Lung Cancer Risk
(January 7th, 2008)

* PhotoDynamic Therapy - Types of Mesothelioma Treatments
(March 18th, 2008)

* Surviving Lung Cancer - Thoracic Surgeons Roll Out New Tumor Removal Procedure
(January 20th, 2009)

* Timing of Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Options - Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy
(February 5th, 2008)

-> Mesothelioma is rarely developed by young people, and it has no relation with smoking, despite of rumours about this. Infact, Mesothelioma can take over 40 years to develop, before full diagnosis is realized!

-> There are about 200 - 500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year, making it a very rare disease. Furthermore, peritoneal mesothelioma measures at about 20 - 30% of all mesothelioma cases in any given year. Approximately 54.7% of all the diagnoses are males and the rest are females. The median age when peritoneal mesothelioma develops is 65 - 69 years.

-> Fluid accumulated in the abdomen (also known as Ascites) is detected and removed through Paracentesis (a procedure that drains fluid from the abdomen of the body by the use of needles).

(View Archives)
 

Peritoneal Mesothelioma - Types of Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is when the abdominal lining of the abdomen becomes cancerous or malignant and could develop into a full mesothelioma tumor. Take a look at the diagram below to see the abdominal lining, which is also known as the Peritoneum (marked in blue). The peritoneum is an insulator or covering for all the organs that exist in the abdomen. It is made up of 2 parts:

i) Visceral peritoneum: Insulates the internal organs of the abdomen and comprises of most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract.

ii) Parietal peritoneum: Insulates the abdominal cavity.

These 2 linings of the peritoneum are designed to secrete fluids that allow organs of the body to move against one another. An application of this is when the intestines move food through the body for digestion. Malignant abdominal cells force overproduction of these fluids thus causing fluid build up in the abdominal cavity. This fluid build up can result in enlargement of the heart and full exposure to mesothelioma.

There are about 200 - 500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year, making it a very rare disease. Furthermore, peritoneal mesothelioma measures at about 20 - 30% of all mesothelioma cases in any given year. Approximately 54.7% of all the diagnoses are males and the rest are females. The median age when peritoneal mesothelioma develops is 65 - 69 years.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Some symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal pain, abdominal mass, build up of fluid in the abdomen (ascites), fatique, anemia, digestion disorders, weight loss, fevers, etc. Usually these symptoms last for 2-3 months before a full diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is discovered. Infact, peritoneal mesothelioma is incidentally found when the patient seeks help from other disorders in the gall bladder, pelvic mass or hernia.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is very difficult. A Computed Tomography (CT) can help differentiate between the 2 clinical types of peritoneal mesothelioma; wet or dry. In the dry type, there are usually no ascites (fluid in the abdomen) and the CT scan will only reveal multiple small masses. In the wet type, there usually is ascites and a CT scan will reveal small masses of peritoneal mesothelioma.

What Causes Peritoneal Mesothelioma?

Medical doctors believe that peritoneal mesothelioma can occur in 2 ways:

i) When asbestos fibers are ingested (taken) into the body and penetrate into the intestinal tract. Thereafter, the asbestos fibers may make their way into the peritoneum or the peritoneal cavity thus making the abdomen cells malignant or cancerous.

ii) When asbestos fibers are inhaled or breathed in and transported through the lymph node system to the peritoneal cavity.

 

 

 

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