Author: Bello Gbenga
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is rare form of cancer that affects the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen. Every year, around 100-500 new cases are seen in the United States. It is also known as abdominal mesothelioma as the peritoneum protects and lines the abdominal cavity and the organs situated in the abdominal cavity. There are two layers of the peritoneal membrane called visceral and parietal layers. The visceral refers to the inner layer covering of the organs and the parietal refers to the outer layer covering of the abdominal cavity.The peritoneal membrane cells attacked by mesothelioma normally secrete lubricating fluids into the peritoneum, this allows for frictionless smooth movements of the organs in the abdominal cavity. However when these cells are transformed into cancerous abnormal cells, they start to over secrete this fluid leading to a gradual fluid build up in the abdomen.Abdominal Mesothelioma is usually secondary to a primary source of the malignancy, which is Pleural mesothelioma. It is believed that the asbestos fibers may be ingested when swallowed, where they enter digestive tract or that the fibers are inhaled into the lungs and transported via the lymphatic system to the abdominal cavity. Cancer cells from the primary source can also become mobile and spread via the lymphatic system to other areas, this process is called metastasis.Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:- Abdominal pain,- Swelling of the abdomen which may be caused by fluid retention (ascites)- Tumor growth into the intestine causing small or large bowel obstruction- Anemia-low blood level, which causes decreased oxygen levels in the blood, and makes the heart work harder, also causing shortness of breath- Weight loss, but you may appear larger around the waist- Fever.If you have been exposed to asbestos in your lifetime and you are having any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately.Relatives of the mesothelioma victim are also at risk of developing the cancer. Spouses who handled dirty clothes to launder them are at risk to having asbestos transferred to them via physical contact with the fibers. Now that more is known about asbestos, workers must bathe and change clothes before going home. Special care is taken to limit exposure to the asbestos fibers.Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is similar to that of pleural mesothelioma. An x-ray will be taken. Mesothelioma cannot be seen on an x-ray, but a tumor may cause pleural effusion (fluid buildup) which can be seen. The doctor may also order a CT scan or an MRI to back up and add to the findings in the x-ray. Once the scans are done, a biopsy must be done to examine to tissue. The doctor will make a cut through the chest wall; this procedure is called a thorascopy. This will be done in the hospital under local anesthesia.The doctor may also perform a peritoneoscopy, which involves surgically inserting a scope into the abdomen to visualize the tumor cells and take tissue samples for biopsy. The procedure is similar for both thoracic and abdominal examinations. Samples of tissue obtained will be examined by the pathologist under the microscope.Mesothelioma is quite rare, so if you are diagnosed with it, you should have your doctor help you find a specialist who is well versed and experienced in the treatment of the disease and there are not too many of such specialists. There is no cure for malignant mesothelioma, but there are treatment options that include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and others. The life expectancy of someone with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma varies from person to person. The prognosis depends on how vigorously the cancer is treated and how the patient responds. The patient may live for years, or only for a few months.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/malignant-peritoneal-mesothelioma-important-facts-for-you-to-know-1112267.html
About the AuthorBello kamorudeen.For complete information about mesothelioma go to http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label peritoneal mesothelioma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peritoneal mesothelioma. Show all posts
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Peritoneal /Abdominal Mesothelioma Information-Basic facts you need to know
Author: Bello Gbenga
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the peritoneum, which is the protective lining of the abdomen. Hence, this disease is also known abdominal mesothelioma. The peritoneum has two layers, the visceral and the parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum is the inner layer that envelops the abdominal organs and forms the periphery of the intestinal tract. On the other hand, parietal peritoneum is the outer layer that covers the abdominal cavity. The purpose of these layers is to protect the internal organs and to secrete a lubricating fluid that eases the movement of internal organs in the abdominal cavity.Causes of Peritoneal MesotheliomaIt is widely believed that asbestos is the main cause for peritoneal mesothelioma. According to medical opinion, there are two ways asbestos dust could reach the intestine lining, one through involuntary ingestion during working long hours and days amid asbestos, and secondly, through the lungs while breathing and via the lymph nodes to the peritoneal cavity. Either way, it is harmful to the human body, and may invariably lead to this cancerous condition if exposed to for a longer period of time.Symptoms of Peritoneal MesotheliomaPeritoneal mesothelioma, like the other forms of mesothelioma, shows a very long latency period and its symptoms show up 20 -30 years after asbestos exposure. Most often by this time it will be too late to effectively treat the disease or provide any constructive medication or treatment. Also because most of the symptoms are not specific to the cancer, a diagnosis of the cancer is usually not made quickly. For example, the common mesothelioma symptoms include anemia, fever, weight loss, abdominal pain, and bowel obstruction, and it is highly likely that the doctor initially may consider other options than contemplating cancer. Therefore, the patient telling the doctor about any previous asbestos exposure during the first consultation visit is very crucial, and that helps the doctor to think of a possible mesothelioma threat even before considering other possibilities.TreatmentsOnce the disease has been diagnosed, the doctor recommends the treatments based on several factors such as the extent of the spread of the cancer, age and medical history of the person and the general state of health of the person. The traditional treatments for mesothelioma include surgery ,radiation therapy- external and internal radiation, and chemotherapy, which involves the use of anti cancer drugs that are given either orally or intravenously.With the advancement in science and technology, newer treatment techniques have been introduced, and some of them look promising.Intraoperative photodynamic therapy is one such newer method that uses special drugs and light to destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy which is a way of boosting the immunity of ones own body against the spread of cancer is another new form of therapy. Also, recently, researches have found that Gene Therapy is effective in correcting the faulty genes causing mesothelioma. These two methods are however still in the clinical trials and are yet to be implemented in the general population. Even though a wide range of treatments are available for mesothelioma, clinical experiences reveals that none of this alone is capable of treating the disease effectively. Therefore, it is a selected combination of some of these treatments called the "multimodality approach" that is commonly followed and the different modes of treatments to be used are decided by the doctor based on the general state of health of the patient , the level of advancement of cancer and his/her age.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/toneal-abdominal-mesothelioma-informationbasic-facts-you-need-to-know-1112615.html
About the AuthorBello kamorudeen is the author of several mesothelioma articles.For more information on mesothelioma types ,symptoms and treatment visit http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the peritoneum, which is the protective lining of the abdomen. Hence, this disease is also known abdominal mesothelioma. The peritoneum has two layers, the visceral and the parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum is the inner layer that envelops the abdominal organs and forms the periphery of the intestinal tract. On the other hand, parietal peritoneum is the outer layer that covers the abdominal cavity. The purpose of these layers is to protect the internal organs and to secrete a lubricating fluid that eases the movement of internal organs in the abdominal cavity.Causes of Peritoneal MesotheliomaIt is widely believed that asbestos is the main cause for peritoneal mesothelioma. According to medical opinion, there are two ways asbestos dust could reach the intestine lining, one through involuntary ingestion during working long hours and days amid asbestos, and secondly, through the lungs while breathing and via the lymph nodes to the peritoneal cavity. Either way, it is harmful to the human body, and may invariably lead to this cancerous condition if exposed to for a longer period of time.Symptoms of Peritoneal MesotheliomaPeritoneal mesothelioma, like the other forms of mesothelioma, shows a very long latency period and its symptoms show up 20 -30 years after asbestos exposure. Most often by this time it will be too late to effectively treat the disease or provide any constructive medication or treatment. Also because most of the symptoms are not specific to the cancer, a diagnosis of the cancer is usually not made quickly. For example, the common mesothelioma symptoms include anemia, fever, weight loss, abdominal pain, and bowel obstruction, and it is highly likely that the doctor initially may consider other options than contemplating cancer. Therefore, the patient telling the doctor about any previous asbestos exposure during the first consultation visit is very crucial, and that helps the doctor to think of a possible mesothelioma threat even before considering other possibilities.TreatmentsOnce the disease has been diagnosed, the doctor recommends the treatments based on several factors such as the extent of the spread of the cancer, age and medical history of the person and the general state of health of the person. The traditional treatments for mesothelioma include surgery ,radiation therapy- external and internal radiation, and chemotherapy, which involves the use of anti cancer drugs that are given either orally or intravenously.With the advancement in science and technology, newer treatment techniques have been introduced, and some of them look promising.Intraoperative photodynamic therapy is one such newer method that uses special drugs and light to destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy which is a way of boosting the immunity of ones own body against the spread of cancer is another new form of therapy. Also, recently, researches have found that Gene Therapy is effective in correcting the faulty genes causing mesothelioma. These two methods are however still in the clinical trials and are yet to be implemented in the general population. Even though a wide range of treatments are available for mesothelioma, clinical experiences reveals that none of this alone is capable of treating the disease effectively. Therefore, it is a selected combination of some of these treatments called the "multimodality approach" that is commonly followed and the different modes of treatments to be used are decided by the doctor based on the general state of health of the patient , the level of advancement of cancer and his/her age.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/toneal-abdominal-mesothelioma-informationbasic-facts-you-need-to-know-1112615.html
About the AuthorBello kamorudeen is the author of several mesothelioma articles.For more information on mesothelioma types ,symptoms and treatment visit http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Pleural Mesothelioma – Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment-Basic Facts You Need to Know
By Bello Kamorudeen
Pleural mesothelioma is the commonest type of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the mesothelial cells in the mesothelium, the tissue that forms the membranous lining of the body's major internal organs and cavities.
Pleural mesothelioma develops when the cancer affects the pleura {the membranous lining of the lungs}.This form of cancer is commonest in the UK, followed by South Africa, then Australia, then USA, then Eastern Europe.
The pleura has two layers which gives support and protection to the lungs and chest cavity:
-The outer layer, or parietal layer, lines the entire chest cavity and the diaphragm.
-The inner layer or the visceral layer which applies directly over the lungs.
Pleural mesothelioma can start from any of these two layers then spread to the other layer. Exposure to asbestos has been strongly linked to the development of this type of cancer. The toxic fibers get trapped in the spaces between the mesothelial cells of the pleura.
Symptoms
The asbestos fibers trapped in the body cause cancerous cells to multiply and divide haphazardly without control. These results in the thickening of the pleural membrane and mesothelial cells, leading to fluid build up in the pleura {pleural effusion}. This accumulated fluid will gradually start pressing on the lungs and the respiratory system leading abnormal and difficult breathing.
These developments eventually form the basis of most of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. These symptoms include:
A} Persistent dry or raspy cough
B} Haemoptysis, the coughing up of blood in the sputum
C} Difficulty in swallowing {dysphagia}
D} Difficulty in breathing, laboured breathing known as dyspnoea
E} Pleurisy, pain in the chest during breathing
F} Development of lumps under the skin of the chest wall
G} Night sweats or fever
H} Unexplained weight loss
I} Fatigue
Diagnosis
Just like in other forms of mesothelioma, the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma show up many years after the initial exposure to asbestos and these symptoms are not specific to pleural mesothelioma, they also occur in some other less serious lung diseases like pneumonia and influenza.
All these factors make the diagnosis of pleura mesothelioma very difficult.
Once there is a strong clinical suspicion of pleural mesothelioma, diagnosis is then confirmed by imaging tests such as x-rays, CT scan, to confirm the location of the cancer. The patient is also subjected to fluid and tissue analysis known as biopsy to confirm the type of cancer involved.
Treatment
Newly developed drugs and detection techniques have improved the outlook for patients with pleural mesothelioma.
In general there are three main modes of treatment: a} Surgery b} Chemotherapy c} Radiotherapy. Most patients receive a combination of two or more of the different modes of treatment.
The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the prognosis and the wider the range of treatment options. When the tumor is detected early, curative surgery is done to remove the cancer, this is followed by chemotherapy or and radiotherapy to kill off any remnant cancerous cells. Curative surgeries is only carried out in patients that have good general state of health and whose cancers have not spread beyond localized sections of the lungs.
The level of progression of the tumor is classified in terms of the stage of the cancer. The stages range from stage 1 to stage 4 depending on the level of spread of the tumor.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 pleural mesothelioma have better prognosis and better treatment options.
The latter stages of the cancer, namely stage 3 and stage 4 are mostly limited to palliative modes of treatment to improve the quality of life and not their prognosis. These palliative treatments include the draining of excessive fluids in the pleural spaces and surgical removal of tumors to relieve pressure on the lungs.
According to current studies, approximately 10% of all pleural mesothelioma patients will survive for three to five years after diagnosis and 5% will survive for 5 years and above.
About the Author: Bello kamorudeen.For complete information on mesothelioma visit http://www.mesotheliomaconer.blogspot.com/
Source: http://www.isnare.com/
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=408150&ca=Cancer+Survival
Article Directory: Cancer
Pleural mesothelioma is the commonest type of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the mesothelial cells in the mesothelium, the tissue that forms the membranous lining of the body's major internal organs and cavities.
Pleural mesothelioma develops when the cancer affects the pleura {the membranous lining of the lungs}.This form of cancer is commonest in the UK, followed by South Africa, then Australia, then USA, then Eastern Europe.
The pleura has two layers which gives support and protection to the lungs and chest cavity:
-The outer layer, or parietal layer, lines the entire chest cavity and the diaphragm.
-The inner layer or the visceral layer which applies directly over the lungs.
Pleural mesothelioma can start from any of these two layers then spread to the other layer. Exposure to asbestos has been strongly linked to the development of this type of cancer. The toxic fibers get trapped in the spaces between the mesothelial cells of the pleura.
Symptoms
The asbestos fibers trapped in the body cause cancerous cells to multiply and divide haphazardly without control. These results in the thickening of the pleural membrane and mesothelial cells, leading to fluid build up in the pleura {pleural effusion}. This accumulated fluid will gradually start pressing on the lungs and the respiratory system leading abnormal and difficult breathing.
These developments eventually form the basis of most of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. These symptoms include:
A} Persistent dry or raspy cough
B} Haemoptysis, the coughing up of blood in the sputum
C} Difficulty in swallowing {dysphagia}
D} Difficulty in breathing, laboured breathing known as dyspnoea
E} Pleurisy, pain in the chest during breathing
F} Development of lumps under the skin of the chest wall
G} Night sweats or fever
H} Unexplained weight loss
I} Fatigue
Diagnosis
Just like in other forms of mesothelioma, the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma show up many years after the initial exposure to asbestos and these symptoms are not specific to pleural mesothelioma, they also occur in some other less serious lung diseases like pneumonia and influenza.
All these factors make the diagnosis of pleura mesothelioma very difficult.
Once there is a strong clinical suspicion of pleural mesothelioma, diagnosis is then confirmed by imaging tests such as x-rays, CT scan, to confirm the location of the cancer. The patient is also subjected to fluid and tissue analysis known as biopsy to confirm the type of cancer involved.
Treatment
Newly developed drugs and detection techniques have improved the outlook for patients with pleural mesothelioma.
In general there are three main modes of treatment: a} Surgery b} Chemotherapy c} Radiotherapy. Most patients receive a combination of two or more of the different modes of treatment.
The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the prognosis and the wider the range of treatment options. When the tumor is detected early, curative surgery is done to remove the cancer, this is followed by chemotherapy or and radiotherapy to kill off any remnant cancerous cells. Curative surgeries is only carried out in patients that have good general state of health and whose cancers have not spread beyond localized sections of the lungs.
The level of progression of the tumor is classified in terms of the stage of the cancer. The stages range from stage 1 to stage 4 depending on the level of spread of the tumor.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 pleural mesothelioma have better prognosis and better treatment options.
The latter stages of the cancer, namely stage 3 and stage 4 are mostly limited to palliative modes of treatment to improve the quality of life and not their prognosis. These palliative treatments include the draining of excessive fluids in the pleural spaces and surgical removal of tumors to relieve pressure on the lungs.
According to current studies, approximately 10% of all pleural mesothelioma patients will survive for three to five years after diagnosis and 5% will survive for 5 years and above.
About the Author: Bello kamorudeen.For complete information on mesothelioma visit http://www.mesotheliomaconer.blogspot.com/
Source: http://www.isnare.com/
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=408150&ca=Cancer+Survival
Article Directory: Cancer
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