Peritoneal Mesothelioma affects the lining of abdominal cavity and accounts to about one-fifth of all reported cases of mesothelioma cancer. It is more common in men than women and mostly caused by exposure to asbestos. The symptoms start showing only after twenty to thirty years after such exposure and can assume life-threatening proportions if not treated immediately. Effective diagnosis of the disease can be made by a tissue biopsy, but other methods like CT scan may yield confusing results.
Clinical symptoms of the cancer normally are pain in abdomen, formation of lumps in abdomen, collection of fluid in the abdomen, fever, fatigue, inexplicable weight loss, malfunctioning of digestive systems and anemia. Some patients may feel uncomfortable many months before the actual symptoms materialize. In many cases, Peritoneal Mesothelioma is detected while the patient is on a check up for problems like hernia, pelvic mass, gall bladder etc.
It is possible to identify the various stages of this cancer in the lymph nodes, tumor and metastases system (TNM), used to determine general cancers. Localized abrasions are visible in the first level and they can be removed easily. Strong therapies are used in the second stage to cure the disease which affects the abdominal cavity on peritoneal and organ surfaces. The infection stays within the abdominal cavity in the third stage, but spreads inside important organs like liver and colon. In the fourth stage, it spreads to the adjacent areas from the abdominal cavity.
Aggressive medication and other therapies have been found to be successful in many Peritoneal Mesothelioma cases. Debulking surgery to remove the entire visible tumor combined with Intra-Peritoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC), intraperitoneal chemotherapy and radiation is the most common multimodality treatment followed by doctors. The process is often lengthy and may be frustrating to both the patients and their near and dear ones. Since chemotherapy and other medications involve several side effects, proper intake of vital minerals and nutrients is essential to help the body cope with them.
The physical health and age of the patient are important factors which determine the success of treatment. Proper treatment and timely diagnosis are vital factors which provide relief to the patients.
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