Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rapidly fatal primary peritoneal surface malignancy with a median survival time of less than 1 year mainly because of lack of effective treatment. Because of its unusual nature, the disease has not been clearly defined in terms of its natural history, diagnosis, or management. It is one of the three types of rare cancer related to asbestos exposure and describes the type of cancer that occurs in the tissues lining the abdominal cavity. Most of the peritoneal mesothelioma patients are men in their 50s to 70s; women make up less than one fifth of all peritoneal mesothelioma cases. A major problem when diagnosing patients with this type of cancer is that the early symptoms often resemble those of the flu (with stomach pains and fever). Many victims do not realize that there may be something severely wrong until the peritoneal mesothelioma tumors cause severe abdominal swelling. In certain cases, the pressure created by peritoneal mesothelioma on internal organs can also create an extreme amount of pain.
The diagnosis begins with an X-Ray or a CT scan. After the possibility of peritoneal mesothelioma is identified by a doctor, exploratory surgery and a biopsy are scheduled. When possible, surgery to remove peritoneal mesothelioma tumors is performed. However, most treatments focus on improving the quality of life of the peritoneal mesothelioma patient as it is often too late for the treatment to be effective.
The links between peritoneal mesothelioma and asbestos exposure often mean that an outside party can be held accountable financially for all peritoneal mesothelioma costs, this includes: medical bills, lost wage, and punitive fees.
If you would like to learn more about peritoneal mesothelioma liability, you may want to find a Mesothelioma Attorney who is experienced and familiar with these types of cases.
