Peritoneal cancer

What is peritoneal cancer?

– When a normal peritoneal cell changes into an abnormal one and begins to multiply without control, peritoneal cancer occurs. The peritoneum is a thin layer of tissue that covers the abdomen and covers the uterus, bladder, and rectum. It creates a fluid that helps the organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen. Peritoneal cancer is a rare cancer.

What are the symptoms of peritoneal cancer?

– Increased abdominal circumference, feeling of bloating and sometimes abdominal pain, frequent urination, problems with bowel movements. These symptoms can be caused by some other diseases, but if you notice them, contact us for an examination or online consultation.

Is there a test to detect peritoneal cancer?

– Peritoneal cancer is detected mostly only at surgery. It has the same clinical picture as ovarian cancer, so it happens that we operate on the patient due to suspicion of ovarian cancer, and on the pathohistological finding we determine that it is peritoneal cancer. Both of these cancers are treated in exactly the same way.

If we suspect that you have fallopian tube cancer or peritoneal cancer, we will look for some of the following tests:

• Ultrasound, CT, MR examinations (imaging examinations)
• Blood tests – Tumor markers such as CA 125, CA 19-9, CEA, CA 15-3, inhibin B, AFP, LDH, etc.
• Surgery – the only way to know for sure if a woman has ovarian cancer.

What is cancer staging?

– Determining how far the cancer has spread.

How is peritoneal cancer treated?

– For most women, cancer removal surgery is the first part of treatment, followed by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a medical term for drugs that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

What happens after treatment?

– Treatment is followed by monitoring. You will come for check-ups at certain intervals in order to check if the cancer is coming back. Tests usually include blood tests and imaging tests.

What happens if the cancer comes back or spreads?

– If the cancer comes back or spreads, you may have more surgery or chemotherapy. It is also possible that you will use a drug called targeted therapy, which can prevent the growth of cancer.

Can a woman who has a BRCA mutation and preventive ovarian removal get peritoneal cancer?

– Unfortunately it can.