Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the peritoneum and therefore presents itself in the form of abdominal problems. The development of peritoneal mesothelioma can cause a buildup of serous fluid within the peritoneal space, a common symptom referred to as ascites. As the fluid continues to accumulate in the abdominal cavity, it can cause profuse swelling and severe discomfort, oftentimes to such an extent that it forces a sufferer to seek out medical attention.
In addition to the onset of ascites, there are a number of peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms indicative of the asbestos cancer:
- Weight loss
- Bowel obstruction
- Lowered red blood cell count (anemia)
- Blood clotting abnormalities
- Fever
People suffering from chronic instances of any of the aforementioned peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms are well-advised to seek medical attention. The earlier a case of peritoneal mesothelioma is diagnosed, the more options a mesothelioma specialist will have in suggesting a course of treatment.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosis
An initial diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma can often be attained through the study of an imaging scan (x-ray, MRI, CT scan, PET scan, etc.). Although the imaging scan may be able to alert a physician as to the presence of peritoneal mesothelioma, a diagnosis cannot be confirmed without the aid of a minor surgical procedure called a biopsy.
A biopsy involves the surgical removal of a section of suspect tissue for the purpose of histopathological evaluation. A histopathologist can confirm a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis, stage the disease and even learn about the cellular makeup of the cancer. A peritoneal tumor is placed into one of three histopathological categories: epithelioid mesothelioma, sarcomatoid mesothelioma or biphasic mesothelioma. Most mesotheliomas are of the epithelioid variety.
The average post-diagnostic survival time for a given malignant mesothelioma sufferer is between one and two years.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatments
Unfortunately, there are no peritoneal mesothelioma treatments that have proven to be successful in generating curative results. Traditional mesothelioma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While such traditional modalities can potentially slow the progression of peritoneal mesothelioma, they are viewed to be ineffective as primary treatments.
A number of new mesothelioma treatments are continuously being researched and developed with the hope that they can generate better results than the traditional methods. New drug therapies are being tested in addition to newly designed modalities that include intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), gene therapy and immunotherapy. Mesothelioma researchers hope that such newly-developed modalities can eventually produce curative results.
Although curative mesothelioma treatments have proven to be ineffective, palliative treatments have proven to be successful in lessening the effects of certain peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms. Patients suffering from ascites can undergo a procedure to have serous fluid drained from the peritoneal space to reduce swelling and lessen abdominal discomfort.