Mesothelioma Guides – A Guide to Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is primarily the result of exposure to asbestos. This cancer takes many years to form and when it finally is diagnosed; there are usually not very many treatment options. When a doctor determines your prognosis with this disease, they will take certain factors into consideration. These would include both the stage and size of the cancer as well as the specific type of mesothelioma. Other important factors are the age of the patient as well as their overall health. With this prognosis, a doctor can also recommend treatment options.

Radiation

Since mesothelioma is a form of cancer it can be treated using radiation. This treatment would kill the cancer cells. However, there are also a lot of side effects that can result from this course of treatment. When mesothelioma is finally able to be diagnosed, the cancer is often already at a very aggressive level. Due to this factor, radiation often is used in conjunction with some of the other treatment options that will be mentioned.

Surgery

For treating mesothelioma, surgery could be another option. Surgery could consist of simply removing the cancer as well as some of the surrounding healthy tissue to insure that the cancer was fully removed. In other situations, an organ could be removed such as in the case of the lungs.

Medication

Another common treatment option for cancers, including mesothelioma, is chemotherapy. The drugs administered with this treatment option can be given either orally or as an injection. In most cases, multiple chemotherapy drugs may be used as pairing them up can increase the effectiveness of this treatment option.

One of the three primary types of mesothelioma is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. Of the three types, peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common. About a third of all cases of mesothelioma are peritoneal mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the lining of the abdomen which is called the peritoneum. The purpose of this lining is the help facilitate movement of organs within the chest cavity. In order to do this, a special fluid must be secreted. However, when this part of the abdomen becomes afflicted with mesothelioma it goes into high gear. The peritoneum actually will make too much of this fluid creating an overabundance of it.

With very few exceptions most cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are caused by some sort of exposure to asbestos. The exposure probably occurred many years ago. When inhaled, the fibres of the asbestos become trapped in the membranes of the organs and chest. Over a long period of time, the cells will start to divide abnormally. When an asbestos fibre is inhaled, there is no route for it to exit the body or a way for the body to clear it. Some fibres never develop into cancer while many others do.

There are certain symptoms that could possible point to a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. These would include swelling of the abdomen. Weight loss is also a common sign as well as obstruction in the bowels. If a patient finds they have these symptoms, they should also report any possible situation where they were exposed to asbestos to their physician.