Peritoneum cancer is a rare type of tumor that appears in tissue that coats the entire inner part of the abdomen and organs, causing symptoms similar to ovarian cancer, such as abdominal pain, nausea, stomach swelling, and unexporry weight loss. For example.
Diagnosis of peritoneal cancer may be made by a generalist or oncologist using imaging tests, such as CT scans and pets, blood tests for specific proteins, called tumor markers, and mainly by performing a biopsy. tumor and a person’s health and includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
- This type of cancer is usually aggressive and the lifespan of a person who has a peritoneum tumor is not well defined.
- However.
- With surgery and chemotherapy.
- It can reach up to age 5.
- In addition.
- If peritoneum cancer is discovered at an early stage.
- The person may live longer.
- But the test will still need to be done each year.
Peritoneum cancer reaches the lining of the abdomen and can cause signs and symptoms such as:
In addition, if the disease is discovered at a later stage, ascites, that is, when fluid builds up in the abdominal cavity, can compress the lungs causing shortness of breath and shortness of breath. Check how ascites are treated.
The causes of peritoneum cancer are not well defined, but it is known that in some cases this type of cancer develops because the cancer cells of other organs reach the layer that lines the abdomen, through the bloodstream, and multiply giving rise to the tumor.
Some risk factors may also be related to the onset of peritoneum cancer, such as women who use hormones after menopause, who have endometriosis, and who are obese; However, women who use birth control pills, have had their ovaries removed or breastfed are less likely to have peritoneal cancer.
Peritoneum cancer begins to develop mainly from organ cells in the abdomen or gynecological region, for women, and is divided into two types, namely:
In addition, women diagnosed with ovarian cancer who have the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes have an increased risk of developing secondary peritoneum cancer, which is why these women must be constantly tested. Learn more about ovarian cancer symptoms.
Diagnosis of peritoneal cancer may be made by the family doctor using imaging tests such as ultrasound, MRI, CT scan and pet, however, to know the stage of the tumor, a biopsy is necessary, which can be performed during an exploratory laparoscopy Discover how laparoscopic surgery is performed.
The biopsy is done by removing a small piece of tissue that is sent to the lab and examined by a pathologist. The pathologist checks whether the tissue contains cancer cells and determines the type of these cells, which is crucial for the oncologist to define the type. In addition, additional blood tests may also be done to identify tumor markers, which are substances found in different types of cancers.
The oncologist defines the treatment of peritoneum cancer based on the stage of the disease and the following options may be indicated:
Intrarapitoneal chemotherapy involves the application of drugs in the peritoneum and is the most appropriate type of treatment for peritoneal cancer because it allows medications to be rapidly absorbed into tissues. Usually, these drugs are heated to a temperature between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius to prevent the body from cooling and to facilitate the entry of drugs into cells.
This treatment is indicated for cases where peritoneum cancer has not spread to other organs, such as the brain and lung, performing at the same time as surgery to remove the tumor and having the benefit of rapid healing of the person, without presenting the side effects such as hair loss and vomiting.
Chemotherapy in the vein is indicated for peritoneum cancer before surgery, so the tumor decreases in size and is easier to remove. This type of chemotherapy is not used as a conventional treatment for this type of cancer, as diseased cells, present in the tumor, are resistant to several commonly used chemotherapy drugs.
Surgery is done to remove the peritoneum tumor when the cancer has not spread to other organs in the body and is indicated in people who may receive anesthesia. This type of operation should be performed by experienced cancer surgeons, as it is quite complicated and often involves the removal of organ parts such as the liver, spleen and intestine.
Before surgery, your doctor requests several blood tests, such as a blood test and blood type test, if the person needs a blood transfusion due to blood loss during surgery. Learn more about blood groups and compatibility.
Radiation therapy is the treatment in which radiation is used to destroy the cells that cause peritoneum cancer and is applied through a machine that emits radiation directly to where the tumor is located.
This method of treatment is indicated by your doctor prior to surgery, to reduce the size of the tumor in the peritoneum, however, it may also be recommended to remove cancer cells after the operation.
This type of cancer is very difficult to cure and the goal of treatment is to increase the life expectancy of the person, providing a better quality of life and physical, mental and social well-being.
In the most severe cases, where peritoneum cancer is at an advanced stage and has spread to other organs, it is important to take palliative care measures so that the person does not feel pain or discomfort. Find out what palliative care is and when it’s appropriate. .
Treatment of peritoneum cancer may have side effects; watch the video for some tips on how to alleviate these effects: