Peritoneal Mesothelioma And What You Need To Know?

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Among the deadly types of mesothelioma is Peritoneal, in which the malignant cells attack the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum. Peritoneum is the thin membrane, which shields different organs of the abdomen as well as allows for a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to run and function right. Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which strikes this lining, is however now a comparatively rare disease that accounts for about 1/5 of all mesotheliomas. Its lone notable cause in the United States to this day is past exposure to asbestos.

While it is neither age nor sex particular, peritoneal mesothelioma is generally seen in men who are in the age bracket of 50-70 years. There are an amount of symptoms of peritoneal most of which begin coming out after 20, 30 or 50 years after the exposure to asbestos. These symptoms could include weight loss, hurting or swelling up in the abdomen, weakness, loss of appetite, intestine obstruction, anemia, nausea and fever. In addition to that, fluid often gathers in the peritoneal space leading to a condition called Ascites.

The first measure towards detection of peritoneal includes X-rays and CT scans. For official diagnosis, however the doctor wants to do a 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.

It is accurate that peritoneal is deadly and leads to a lot of 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 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 lawyer to earn you a handsome compensation from the authority who was responsible for your prior exposure to asbestos.