Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is also mesothelioma cancer in the lining that surrounds the abdomen (stomach) but the word Diffuse means that is the cancer is spread out over an area, and not in just one place.

The Peritoneal or Peritoneum is a smooth membrane, which lines the cavity of the abdomen (stomach) and helps to guard and protect the contents of the abdomen. The membrane also produces a needed lubricating fluid and this fluid helps the internal organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen as we walk, run, or move around.

It has been noted that peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for approximately 10% of mesothelioma cases that have been found.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

In many cases, when the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include abdominal pains, abdominal weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling. Fluid will often accumulate in the peritoneal space, which is a condition known as ascites. Over time the wasting symptoms of this cancer can become more and more severe. A growing peritoneal mesothelioma tumor can cause increasing pressure on the other organs found in the abdomen, which can lead to bowel obstruction and distention.

Also, if a peritoneal mesothelioma tumor presses upward, it can impair the breathing capacity. If the peritoneal mesothelioma tumor pushes against areas with many nerve fibers, and if the bowel distends, the amount of cancer pain can increase.