Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that results from the direct or indirect exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma attacks the outer lining that usually protects the human bodys major organs. Because its symptoms are similar to many other diseases and its latency period unpredictable, doctors are sometimes not very successful in diagnosing mesothelioma until it is too late.

One of the forms of this type of cancer is peritoneal mesothelioma. It attacks the lining that protects the inside of the abdomen and is sometimes referred to as diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma. It is estimated that around 10% of all mesothelioma victims suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma.

The latency period for peritoneal mesothelioma is very long and can sometimes take literal decades to manifest. As such, the symptoms of the disease are difficult to pinpoint and this means that it is sometimes diagnosed long after the cancer has spread, leaving it untreatable. It is very important for treating physicians to be told that patients were exposed to asbestos in the past, even for a minimal amount of time, as this may enable medical staff to pinpoint the cause of common ailments.

Patients may feel abdominal pain or swelling, overall weakness, nausea, loss of weight and appetite and obstruction of the bowel. Of course, these ailments could be the sign of something totally different, making it difficult for doctors to diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma until it is too late. Once doctors have made a correct diagnosis however, it is imperative that patients seek the advice of medical staff that are experts in the field of mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases. These doctors have access to the latest news on the disease and are aware of the latest treatments available.

So what can be done to treat peritoneal mesothelioma? The treatment will depend on a number of issues, including the patient's age and medical background, how advanced the cancer is and the general medical condition of the victim. There are a number of methods to try when treating peritoneal mesothelioma. The first is surgery and this entails removing the tumor by cutting out the affected area. The success of surgery will depend on how far the cancer has spread and whether it is necessary to remove other organs of the body as well.

Other choices of treatment include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Radiation can entail using high dosages of x-ray energy to try and shrink the tumor, or alternatively administering the radiation to the infected area using plastic tubes. Chemotherapy involves administering a cocktail of drugs to the patient's body, either in tablet form or intravenously.

When patients are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, or even if they suspect that they might develop this illness in the future based on their previous exposure to asbestos, it is essential that they choose the best doctors available in the field.