Peritoneal mesothelioma

Many of the organs in the abdomen are enveloped by a thin membrane of mesothelial cells, known as the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a tumor of this membrane. Its only known cause in the U.S. is previous exposure to asbestos, but it can be many years after exposure before the disease appears. Peritoneal mesotheliomas account for about one-fifth of all mesotheliomas.

Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be either benign or malignant. This discussion is only about malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is sometimes diagnosed by coincidence, before any symptoms have appeared. For example, the tumor is sometimes seen on a routine abdominal x-ray for a check-up or before surgery.

When the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include abdominal pains, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling. Fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space, a condition known as ascites. Over time the wasting symptoms can become more and more severe.

The growing tumor can exert increasing pressure on the organs in the abdomen, leading to bowel obstruction and distention. If the tumor presses upward, it can impair breathing capacity. If the tumor pushes against areas with many nerve fibers, and the bowel distends, the amount of pain can increase.

Mesothelioma - Big Payout Too Late

WORKING in clouds of asbestos dust came back to haunt former builder Stewart Beckworth decades later.

Mr. Beckworth, 63, who has asbestos-related lung cancer, has just won a large compensation payout from the James Hardie company but it provides little comfort for the father of nine. Mr. Beckworth, of Mt Martha, knows Mesothelioma will kill him but he is more worried about other problems confronting his devastated family.

His wife Ginny, 61, has much more than her husband's illness to cope with. She has a heartbreaking wait hoping for the green light to donate one of her kidneys to accountant son Nathan. Nathan Beckworth, 34, was born with cystic fibrosis and had a heart-lung transplant 14 years ago. He is one of the longest survivors of the operation but he suffered another blow when stricken with kidney failure. Only a transplant can now save his life but he must build up lung capacity for the operation.

The couple also care for Mrs. Beckworth's mother, 96, who has recently been seriously ill. "I'm angry this happened to me," Mr. Beckworth said. "But I'm also angry what it has done to my family. "I've got a lovely family and we love one another to death. I see those kids hysterical that dad's not going to be around to walk them down the aisle or to see the grandkids born. It's a terrible thing."

Mr. Beckworth sued James Hardie, claiming that although it knew its asbestos products were dangerous it did not to warn builders. Hardie's settled the case before it got to court but continued to deny liability. Mrs. Beckworth said waiting for the kidney transplant operation, coping with her sick mother and dealing with her husband's cancer was taking its toll. "It's awful. I thought to myself, 'please, I don't want three funerals'," she said. Mr. Beckworth had nothing but contempt for Hardie's.

"I'm a normal working man. I don't deserve to be poisoned by people like that," he said. Mr. Beckworth was a builder on the Mornington Peninsula for more than 40 years. All of his constructions until the late '70s contained asbestos cement sheeting. "I had no idea this dust was deadly," he said.

He was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in January and told he had six to 12 months to live. "I thought what am I going to do? I've got kids crying, I've got my wife crying, I'm a bit upset myself," he said. Mr. Beckworth's solicitor, Peter Gordon, a partner at Slater and Gordon, said his case was sadly not unusual.

He said more builders would develop Mesothelioma but another danger was to home renovators. "Stewart is one of a generation of Australians who have been exposed this way by Hardies but it could be any one of us in the future," he said.

Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers - Part 4b

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed Mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing Mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.