Asbestos exposure can lead to a type of cancer called mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial lining (also called mesothelium) of organs in the chest and/or abdomen. The mesothelium is a thin layer of cells that produce fluid that lubricates and protects organs such as the heart, lungs, stomach and testicles.Peritoneum is the medical word for the wall that lines the abdomen and pelvis.
Along the peritoneal wall is a mesothelium. When cancer attacks the mesothelial lining of the peritoneum, that cancer is called peritoneal mesothelioma.How does Peritoneal Mesothelioma Form?
When asbestos fibers are breathed or swallowed into the body, they can migrate to the mesothelium of the peritoneum and lodge there. Over time, the fibers cause irregularities in the cells there that develop into cancer - peritoneal mesothelioma.
Like other types of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma typically has a long latency period. It usually takes years or even decades after asbestos exposure for the cancer to be diagnosed, but not always. Mesothelioma is rare. Thankfully, only 2000 – 3000 cases a year are diagnosed in the United States. Of these, only 15% - 20% begin in the peritoneum.
Diagnosis and Treatment
As is true for other types of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma is rarely diagnosed in an early stage, when more treatment options may be available. There are several reasons the disease is typically not caught early:
* Many victims may not be aware they are at risk.
* The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may be confused with other less serious conditions.
* The disease is very rare, and most primary care physicians have no experience with it.
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