Abdominal mesothelioma, also known as peritoneal mesothelioma, is one form of a rare asbestos-linked cancer, mesothelioma. The abdominal mesothelioma, as the name suggests, is a cancer of the tissues in the abdominal cavity. Abdominal mesothelioma generally affects men ages 50-70, although women make up about one-fifth of all abdominal mesothelioma cases.

Abdominal pains, abdominal weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling are all abdominal mesothelioma symptoms. Patients exhibiting these symptoms are usually scheduled for further examinations to search for other abdominal mesothelioma signs. If an X-ray or CT scan indicates signs that the patient indeed may have abdominal mesothelioma, a biopsy is conducted, allowing the physician to determine the malignancy level. Any abdominal mesothelioma treatment will be determined by the physician and patient, taking into account the stage of the abdominal mesothelioma, the location and sizes of any tumors, and the age and health of the patient. Abdominal mesothelioma has a very high mortality rate, and in many cases, diagnosis occurs when the abdominal mesothelioma has already progressed too far. In such cases, all actions focus on making the abdominal mesothelioma as comfortable as possible, often removing portions of the tumor to relieve pressure.

Abdominal mesothelioma patients may be able to recover part or all of the costs of treating abdominal mesothelioma, due to its strong links to asbestos exposure.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The symptoms of mesothelioma are not unique or remarkable in any way, which can cause it to be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss, coughing, possibly coughing up blood, fatigue, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or there may be no symptoms at all. Cases of mesothelioma can go undetected or be misdiagnosed. For those who may be at risk, it is imperative to share one’s case history and work experience with one’s physician.

The physician usually starts with an x-ray, CAT Scan or MRI of the chest and abdomen. Even if peritoneal mesothelioma is the chief concern, the doctor needs to rule out that the origin isn’t higher up. Plural mesothelioma is more common and will spread into the abdominal cavity if given the time to do so. If the results of these tests warrant, the doctor will look inside the abdomen with a peritoneoscope. The test with the peritoneoscope is done in the hospital with a local anesthetic. The scope is inserted through an opening made in the abdomen, and the mesothelium tissue is examined. If the tissue cells appear abnormal, a sample of the tissue will be collected for viewing under a microscope for malignancy.

Treatment

Many treatments are available and practiced for abdominal mesothelioma. The usual treatments of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are at the top of the list. Most mesothelioma treatment plans include a combination of methods. Utilizing multiple treatment methods is termed the multimodality approach.

The actions taken with surgery depend on the disposition of the disease. A surgeon may remove part of the mesothelium lining in the abdomen, he or she may remove part of the diaphragm. In severe cases, a doctor might need to remove all or portions of organs.

Radiation treatment or chemotherapy are frequently coupled with surgery. Radiation treatment uses high-energy x-rays to burn cancer cells and reduce tumors. With chemotherapy, the patient is injected with chemicals to kill the cancer cells.

Other types of treatment are Intraoperative photodynamic therapy, which is a new form of treatment. A chemical is injected into the patient several days before surgery. The chemical makes cancer cells more sensitive to light. During surgery, a special light is shone into the abdominal cavity to destroy cancer cells.

Life expectancy

Studies in the United States show that men are more at risk of developing peritoneal mesothelioma, probably because more men work in the construction field. Women, however, have been found to be more vulnerable to the spreading of the disease once it is contracted. Because the disease is so aggressive, survival rates are poor. The chances of recovery depend on the size and range of the cancer and the stage of its development when treatment commences. This is why early detection is so crucial.