Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Malignant Mesotheliomas

Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma, but
both of these typically malignant mesotheliomas can be just as tragic.
Peritoneal mesothelioma begins in the abdominal cavity, as opposed to
the lungs and pleural areas of pleural mesothelioma. "Peritoneal"
means it has to do with the peritoneum, which is a membrane that
surrounds the abdominal area. "Pleural" refers to the pleura which is
a membrane that surrounds the lungs. There is also a "pericardial"
mesothelioma which targets the heart membrane first.

The lungs, abdominal area and heart all have a membrane made up of
mesothelial cells, named the mesothelium. A cancerous attack of these
membrane areas are mesotheliomas. Asbestos is the cause of peritoneal
mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma in
well over 90% of the cases. There are a few rare recorded cases of
malignant mesothelioma when asbestos exposure was not identified. If
you have been exposed to asbestos, there is a high chance you will
suffer from an asbestos-caused disease such as asbestosis or pleural
plaques. However, not all asbestos-caused diseases are fatal.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial
mesothelioma can be fatal malignant mesotheliomas which spread
uncontrollably, or they can be benign, when the tumor stays where it
is and can likely be removed. Unexplainable weight loss is a
mesothelioma symptom which may occur in as many as 90% of benign and
malignant mesothelioma. Generally, benign mesothelioma tends to show
less symptoms than malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms for
peritoneal mesothelioma almost always includes abdominal pain. This is
because there is excess fluid between the peritoneal membrane and the
abdomen walls. Pleural mesothelioma has excess fluid in the pleural
area and this causes shortness of breath and chest pain.

The mesothelioma symptoms of pleural mesothelioma and pericardial
mesothelioma are not as outwardly visible as the symptoms of
peritoneal mesothelioma. In peritoneal mesothelioma, the abdomen can
appear larger. Tumor masses may be visible, but external tumor
visibility only occurs in a minority of peritoneal mesothelioma cases.
Nausea is a common mesothelioma symptom with peritoneal mesothelioma,
and the abdominal area will also be very tender.

In a healthy peritoneal area between the membrane and the wall, the
peritoneal fluid helps the intestines move food. In peritoneal
mesothelioma however, excess fluid causes bowel obstruction. The
mesothelioma symptoms of extra fluid and bowel obstruction both
contribute to abdominal pain. The bowel obstruction can also produce
mesothelioma symptoms of constipation and diarrhea. Many peritoneal
malignant mesothelioma patients have reported mesothelioma symptoms of
a burning sensation in the abdomen. Mesothelioma symptoms for
peritoneal malignant mesothelioma may not surface for 20-30 years
after asbestos exposure, but it generally surfaces sooner than pleural
mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is fortunately rare, however its rarity
sometimes makes it harder to diagnose. The symptoms are similar to
hernias and gall bladder problems, and identifying peritoneal
mesothelioma in a CT scan is difficult. The medical industry is aware
that asbestos-related diseases will be escalating over the upcoming
years, and treatment for peritoneal malignant mesothelioma is
undergoing many clinical trials. If you have been exposed to asbestos
and have unexplainable abdominal pain and are experiencing unexplained
weight loss, begin preliminary testing for peritoneal mesothelioma.
The sooner the testing begins, the higher the chances for symptomatic
relief, and hopefully today's mesothelioma clinical trials will lead
to a mesothelioma cure in the future.