General information

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is similar to pleural mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lung). It is believed to be caused primarily by asbestos exposure and if you can demonstrate prior asbestos exposure you might be entitled to compensation from the Dust Diseases Board in your state. In our unit we recommend peritonectomy and HIPEC as the standard treatment.

What are the reasons for recommending Peritonectomy?

Based on our results, chances of living 5 years after peritonectomy and HIPEC for peritoneal mesothelioma are approximately 50%. The HIPEC used for mesothelioma is mitomycin C and cisplatin.

What are the alternatives?

The alternative treatment is chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin. We expect about 20% of individuals to get a response to this chemotherapy. The chances of living 5 years with chemotherapy alone are less than 20%. There are no randomised trials comparing treatments.