Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a type of mesothelioma that affects the peritonium region of the body. The peritonium is a membrane that lines the abdominal area of our body. 
It is an uncommon form of mesothelioma as only 30% of all cases are peritoneal mesothelioma. It is thought that patients suffering from this form of mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos at some point in the past. The duration of exposure necessary needed for peritoneal mesothelioma to develop is unknown.
Normal symptoms include swelling of the abdomen area, abdominal pain, weight loss, lumps in the abdomen area, anemia and an obstruction of the small and/or large intestine. Survival rates for peritoneal mesothelioma as well as all forms of this cancer are very low. There is no cure with the only options available pointing to increasing life expectancy and imporving the quality of the patients life. It is though that asbestos fibers are transported to the peritonium where they begin to affect the cells of the peritonium membrane. The cells begin to divide at a very high rate causing the membrane to thicken. Fluid begins to build up in the abdomen.
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Treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma includes draining of the fluid in the abdomen, Cytoreductive surgery which is an attempt at removing as much visible tumors as possible. This is then combined with chemotherapy and radiation if the situation warrants it. In theory, the chemotherapy and radiation attempts to kill the rapidly dividing cells as effectively as possible. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is also an option where the chemicals are delivered directly into the peritonium. Unfortunately, the cast majority of cases see the patients too far ahead in the spread of mesothelioma for surgery or chemotherapy to have an affect. At that point, treatment is undergone with two things in mind, alleviation of pain and extending the patients lifespan.
Further reading :- Pericardial Mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma, Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit, Mesothelioma Prevention, Mesothelioma Doctors, Mesothelioma Treatments, Mesothelioma Treatment Centers.
