Peritoneal mesothelioma - an asbestos related cancer

Peritoneal mesothelioma - an asbestos related cancer

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused mainly by exposure to asbestos. View links for diagnosis, treatment, research options.

Persons expressing peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms do so sometimes 30 to 45 years following initial exposure to asbestos. Each year in the United States an estimated 2000 new cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are entered into the clinical diagnostic records. In the main, most victims of peritoneal mesothelioma share a common population demographic, dominated by the over 4 million American men and women who participated in the World War II ship building campaign at America 's major production sites.

As peritoneal mesothelioma victims and medical analysts now recognize, asbestos impregnated materials such as drywall insulation, outer casing material for pipes, brake linings, well materials, along with a host of asbestos applications were design "norms" during the mid 20 th century.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, like its twin pleural mesothelioma, reflects asbestos exposure of even less than 1 year's duration nearly 45 years later. Fibrous asbestos could be inhaled, or could be attached to clothing, shoes, caps, hair and via these "co-factors" insinuate its way into the internal organs of persons coming from the workplace, as well as creating the conditions related to "second hand asbestos contamination" for family members, who likewise might show peritoneal mesothelioma symptomology later in life.

Mesothelioma cancer onset caps a germination period of nearly a half century. Initial symptoms inferring potential peritoneal mesothelioma cancer express themselves in an incremental and insidious manner. In this form of mesothelioma cancer, the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum, becomes the locus for development of cancer cells. Afflicted persons show weight loss even while their stomach begins to distend, due to the build up of excess fluids or to the growth of the peritoneal mesothelioma tumor. In addition to the pain and swelling in the abdomen and back, persons evidencing this form of asbestos mesothelioma experience great fatigue, bowel obstructions, fever, nausea and vomiting and like pleural mesothelioma results in swelling of the lower extremities.

Diagnostic survey for presence of peritoneal mesothelioma malignant cells requires use of an X-ray, or your family physician-specialist may need to do exploratory thoracic or abdominal surgery in order to examine directly the abdominal lining and nearby organs such as the liver, spleen, heart and lungs. In the event that tissue looks suspect and/or indicative of peritoneal mesothelioma, then the surgeon orders a tissue sample to be excised in order for a pathology lab biopsy test to verify results.

While asbestos remains the underlying most vilified "trigger" factor in the symptomology of peritoneal mesothelioma, other factors co-mingle in a cascade of variables which include family genetics, incidence of disease, life style factors including diet and nutrition, use of alcohol and tobacco products, and more. As medical researchers tabulate peritoneal mesothelioma incidence data, their back-testing or regressional analysis often shows that no two persons exhibit the same outcomes even while sharing identical asbestos exposures, e.g. one person becomes mortally sick, whereas the other person never shows symptoms. For example, although smoking has not been directly shown to be a causal factor in asbestos - triggered peritoneal mesothelioma, smoking combined with asbestos nevertheless increases lung and larynx Cancerrisk by an order of magnitude of 90 times or 9000% over the base "normal" population.

If you or your family member have a past asbestos exposure and now show a health deterioration with symptoms potentially indicative of peritoneal mesothelioma, then you need to immediately consult a qualified physician for diagnostic testing. Regrettably, mesothelioma cancer carries a virtual 100% mortality factor, so it's important to consider mesothelioma therapy options, obtain rest and maximal nutrition. Meanwhile, because the treatment costs for peritoneal mesothelioma run $200,000 plus annually, you may consider researching currently running class action mesothelioma lawsuit in order to determine whether your medical costs as well as pain and suffering will be covered in a mesothelioma settlement decision.

Meanwhile, for medical and legal resources related to mesothelioma, please continue to utilize this site or links to non profit service sites such as CancerInformation Services or The Mesothelioma Center

Copyright 2004-2010 S&T US LLC