Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that is located in the abdominal layer that serves to protect the abdominal organs and the glands that release fluids that allow the organs to move with fluidity. Cancer of the peritoneum causes the abdomen to swell and healthy cells to be removed from the cavity while allowing the growth of cancer cells.
Causes of peritoneal mesothelioma
The most common cause of peritoneal mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos It has been proven that asbestos that remains lodged in the layer that covers the abdomen causes this type of cancer, although it is not understood how the layer becomes infected. The most accepted theory is that asbestos dust is swallowed, so that the fibers are allowed to easily enter the abdomen. This leads to inflammation and sometimes cancer. Another theory of how asbestos reaches the peritoneal membrane is that asbestos fibers are inhaled and travel to the membrane through the lymphatic system
Regardless of how this toxic fiber enters the peritoneal membrane, the fact of the problem is that once it enters the body it is very difficult to get rid of it. Due to the nature of the fibers, they are lodged in the membrane and between 20 and 50 years change the dynamics of healthy cells, causing them to change and grow rapidly and uncontrollably.
This rapid growth of the cells causes the peritoneum to swell and a liquid is created in the peritoneal layer that causes discomfort in the patients. Finally, this growth of cells causes tumors to begin to form.
Period of latency
After an initial exposure to asbestos, cancer usually does not manifest itself until after 50 years. Despite this long period of latency, this form of cancer is the fastest and most fatal. At the beginning of the disease the symptoms of cancer are hardly visible. The first symptom is usually abdominal pain, which can usually be associated with another problem so that the correct diagnosis is delayed. Later symptoms include abdominal swelling, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, intestinal obstruction, fever and hernia,
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma
This type, which is the second most common form of mesothelioma, develops in the tissue that lines the abdominal cavity and is known as the peritoneum. Symptoms of this disease include:
These symptoms are usually the result of a thickening of the layer that surrounds the abdomen. The thickening is a consequence of a rapid growth of cancer cells. Generally, this rapid growth leads to the accumulation of fluid between the membrane of this area, exerting pressure on the abdomen, which leads to the symptoms of this cancer.
Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma
In order to obtain a diagnosis, the doctor will perform different tests, review the medical history and perform imaging tests such as a scanner or PET scan. After the tumor is localized, it is usual to perform a biopsy to determine if the tumor is carcinogenic. In contrast to pleural mesothelioma, there is no system to determine the stage of cancer. Instead, physicians directly go to determine which treatment option is the most appropriate. Unfortunately, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical removal are treatments that have not been proven to work separately.
Treating the disease
The most effective treatment options are those that combine traditional therapies. The radiation can be used to attack the cancer cells and thus alleviate the pain and reduce the swelling of the abdomen. After the radiation is completed, chemotherapy is used to reduce the tumor. Third, the surgical alternative can be used to resect the tumor. Chemotherapy will be used again after the intervention. If the diagnosis has been made soon, these treatments can be effective, although a cure is rarely possible. Instead, the goal is usually to manage pain and relieve symptoms
Research
There are ongoing research and clinical trials to determine how the chance of finding a cure for peritoneal mesothelioma can be increased. Currently the only possibility of cure is to find the tumor in its primary stages. People who have been in contact with asbestos, should undergo frequent medical check-ups to reduce the risk of developing a mesothelioma or any of the diseases
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