Peritoneal Mesothelioma
There are at least two explanations for how asbestos fibers can get into the peritoneum. The first is that fibers caught by the mucus of the trachea and bronchi are swallowed. Some fibers lodge in the intestinal tract and from there they can move through the intestinal wall into the peritoneum. The second explanation is that fibers that lodge in the lungs can move into the lymphatic system and be transported to the peritoneum.
Medical science does not know exactly how or why, at a cellular level, a carcinogen like asbestos causes a cell to become cancerous.
At this time there are treatments, but no known cure, for peritoneal mesothelioma. The prognosis depends on various factors, including the size and stage of the tumor, its extent, the cell type, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment.
Howeve, the options for relief and treatment of people with peritoneal mesothelioma have improved, especially for those whose cancer is diagnosed early and treated vigorously. Many people receive a combination of therapies, or multimodal therapy. Specific types of treatment include chemotherapy and other drug-based therapies, radiation therapy, and surgery. There are also clinical trials and various experimental treatments like gene therapy and immunotherapy, and antiangiogenesis drugs.
; |
