| Although peritoneal mesothelioma case is rarer than | | | | differentiate the stages of the cancerous tumor |
| pleural mesothelioma, it is often more aggressive and | | | | development. When needed, TNM staging system is |
| gives lower life expectancy compared to the pleural | | | | normally used to detect the cancer in stages. |
| form. Peritoneal mesothelioma may develop as an | | | | Treatments for peritoneal mesothelioma are similar to |
| extension of pleural mesothelioma through the | | | | what is used for pleural mesothelioma which may |
| lymphatic system or stand alone as the primary site of | | | | include chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Although |
| the cancer. | | | | these treatments can't cure the cancer, they does |
| Most people suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma | | | | provide a better prognosis compared to the pleural |
| failed to recognize the symptoms as they resemble flu | | | | mesothelioma. The peritoneal mesothelioma life |
| symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain | | | | expectancy for untreated cases is 6 months to 1 year |
| or fever. A change in bowel movement may occur | | | | but with aggressive treatments patients can expect to |
| once the cancerous tumor grows bigger downward, | | | | live for another 2 - 5 years. |
| on the other hand if the tumor develops upward it can | | | | Despite of poor life expectancy, some patients with |
| disturb the respiratory system. Pain in abdominal region | | | | mesothelioma successfully beat the disease and live |
| can happen when the mass of tumor pressurizes the | | | | much longer than expected. Instead of weeping and |
| nerve fibers. Weight loss and swelling abdomen are | | | | waiting for the death coming they searched for |
| other indications of this abdominal cancer, however | | | | alternative solutions and radically changed their |
| when patients seek their doctors' opinions at this stage | | | | lifestyles. That's how they managed to be the |
| it could be too late as normally the cancer has spread | | | | survivors of mesothelioma. Rhio O'Connor and Paul |
| and grown bigger in the peritoneal cavity or abdominal | | | | Kraus for example were given a few months only to |
| cavity. | | | | live but they rejected the idea of giving up and were |
| Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is very difficult | | | | determined to survive instead. No matter how small |
| and there is no defined system so far that can | | | | your chance is, you should nevergive up. |