Cytoreductive Surgery for Mesothelioma
Article by Michael Enfield
Cancer is deadly not only due to the presence of tumors, but also because of its ability to metastasize, or spread throughout your body. During this process, tiny bits of the original tumor break off and travel through the bloodstream. They can then leave the blood and anchor in other areas of your body to grow. This can result in a number of tumors throughout your body, which may require a major surgery such as a cytoreductive process.
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer almost primarily caused by asbestos exposure. Although mesothelioma has a long latency period, it is one type of cancer that can spread quickly and aggressively once it manifests. This means that you may not develop this cancer until thirty years after your initial exposure to asbestos. However, once mesothelioma arrives, it typically claims your life in less than five years.
Although mesothelioma is a devastating cancer, some surgeries have proved to increase your lifespan if you are suffering from this disease. One process, called cytoreductive surgery, has been shown to extend a peritoneal mesothelioma patient’s prognosis by an average of 15 months.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is mesothelioma that occurs throughout the abdomen. Because this is a large area, you can develop a high number of tumors in your internal organs and the lining of your abdomen. Rather than attempting to remove these tumors one by one, surgeons can use cytoreductive surgery to remove as many as possible during one surgery.
With cytoreductive surgery, doctors will make a long incision down your abdomen and basically open it to the full view of the surgeons. They will then try to remove as many tumors as safely possible. Because this takes away the “bulk” of your tumors, it is often called debulking surgery. While this is a major process, it has been shown to have success for peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important that you consider all of your treatment options before you embark on a treatment plan. For more information regarding the types of mesothelioma and your treatment options, please visit the informative Mesothelioma Help Center today.
About the Author
Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. To learn more about the dangers of asbestos as well as its associated health risks, visit the Asbestos Help Center today.