How does Peritoneal Mesothelioma Form?
When asbestos fibers are breathed or swallowed into the body, they can migrate to the mesothelium of the peritoneum and lodge there. Over time, the fibers cause irregularities in the cells there that develop into cancer – peritoneal mesothelioma. Like other types of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma typically has a long latency period. It usually takes years or even decades after asbestos exposure for the cancer to be diagnosed, but not always. Mesothelioma is rare. Thankfully, only 2000 – 3000 cases a year are diagnosed in the United States. Of these, only 15% – 20% begin in the peritoneum.
