About Peritoneal Cancer
Peritoneal cancer can be caused by the spread of cancer cells from tumors in other locations, such as ovarian, gastric, and colorectal tumors. For primary peritoneal cancer, the exact cause is unknown, but it is believed that genetic mutations in the BRCA1 gene contribute to some cases.
Non-modifiable risk factors for peritoneal cancer cannot be changed or controlled. These include:
- Age: The risk increases as you get older.
- Family history: Having a family history of ovarian or peritoneal cancer increases the risk.
- Genetic mutations: Carrying the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation or genes for Lynch syndrome increases the risk.
- Postmenopausal hormone therapy: Taking hormone therapy after menopause slightly increases the risk.
- High BMI and greater height: Being overweight, obese, or tall increases the risk.
- Endometriosis: Having endometriosis also increases the risk.
Modifiable risk factors for peritoneal cancer can be influenced or changed. These include:
- Nulliparity: Not having given birth to a child
- Obesity: Being overweight or obese
- Infertility: Difficulty conceiving a child
- Oral contraceptive use: Taking birth control pills
- Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding after childbirth
- Tubal ligation: Surgical procedure to block the fallopian tubes
- Salpingo-oophorectomy: Surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
Remember, these are general risk factors and individual situations may vary. It's important to consult with your healthcare professional for personalized advice.
Peritoneal cancer can present with different symptoms depending on the stage and severity of the disease. In the early stages, there may be no symptoms at all. However, as the cancer progresses or reaches a higher severity, the following symptoms may occur:
- Abdominal bloating or pain
- Enlarged abdomen
- Feeling of pressure in the abdomen or pelvis
- Fullness before finishing a meal
- Indigestion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bowel or urinary changes
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Vaginal discharge
- Back pain
- Fatigue
Later stage symptoms:
- Complete bowel or urinary blockage
- Inability to eat or drink
- Watery fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity (ascites), causing nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, stomach pain, and fatigue
It's important to note that these symptoms are nonspecific and can be caused by other conditions as well. If you experience any new symptoms or are concerned about peritoneal cancer, it's best to speak with your doctor for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.
To diagnose peritoneal cancer, doctors commonly perform the following examinations, tests, and procedures:
- Physical examination: The doctor will physically examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms. This may include a pelvic examination to look for signs of cancer involving pelvic organs.
- Imaging tests: These include CT (computed tomography) scans, PET (positron emission tomography) scans, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. These tests help doctors find tumors within the peritoneum.
- Biopsy: This involves removing tissue samples from the abdomen through a procedure called paracentesis or laparoscopy. These samples are then tested for cancer cells in the laboratory.
- Blood tests: Doctors may perform a CA-125 assay to measure the levels of a protein called cancer antigen (CA) 125 in your blood.
- Biopsies during surgery: Doctors may perform a biopsy at the same time as surgery to remove the tumor. This helps determine the histological subtype of the tumor.
It's important to note that these are general procedures, and specific diagnostic approaches may vary depending on individual cases. It's always best to consult with your doctor for personalized advice and guidance.
The goals of treatment for peritoneal cancer are to improve the quality of life, provide symptom relief, and target the cancer cells effectively. To achieve these goals, a multimodal treatment approach is typically recommended, which may include the following:
- Surgery: The primary goal of surgery is to remove tumors and affected organs or tissues. This helps in reducing the tumor burden and improving overall outcomes.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells. It can be administered systemically through intravenous infusion or orally. Chemotherapy aims to target cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body.
- Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): This procedure involves delivering heated chemotherapy drugs directly into the peritoneum (abdominal cavity) for a specific duration after surgery. HIPEC aims to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy by increasing drug exposure to the peritoneal surface.
- Early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy: Similar to HIPEC, this procedure involves delivering chemotherapy drugs into the peritoneum on the first day after surgery. It helps in targeting residual cancer cells and reducing the risk of recurrence.
It's important to note that specific medication types and therapies will vary depending on individual factors such as tumor stage, grade, size, location, age, and overall health. Health behavior changes like maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following a balanced diet may also support treatment outcomes.
Remember, treatment plans should be discussed with a healthcare professional who specializes in treating this type of cancer as they can provide personalized recommendations based on individual circumstances.
Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for additional side effect information.