So, what is Primary Peritoneal Cancer (PPC)? Simply put, PPC is cancer of the peritoneum. But I’m sure you want more information that than. Okay, let’s start with the peritoneum & what exactly it is and does. According to the National Library of Medicine, the peritoneum is the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen. The peritoneum also produces a lubricating fluid that allows our organs to move easily inside our abdomen. PPC is cancer that begins in the peritoneum; it did not spread there from another part of the body. However, PPC can and often spreads to other organs.
PPC is a close relative of epithelial ovarian cancer. Cells of the peritoneal lining are the same type of cells as the cells that line the surface of the ovary. Because of this, doctors treat PPC in the same manner as they treat ovarian cancer. Below are a few “fun facts” about PPC:
- No early stage: classed as stage III or IV; metastasis as stage IV
- Lack of symptoms responsible for late diagnosis and overall decrease in survival
- Tumor markers most commonly used with PPC are CA 19-9 and CA-125
- Treatment is usually a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy
- Like ovarian cancer, PPC is estrogen-dependent
- Symptoms: swollen belly, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, loss of appetite
- Complications: bowel and/or urinary tract obstruction
So now what? How do I navigate my way through this new and not so great chapter of my life? How do I stay positive and keep moving forward? How do I turn my lemon (cancer) into lemonade? How do I increase my longevity against all odds? Welcome to my journey through Primary Peritoneal Cancer. I hope some of the information contained on this website, which I have obtained through many hours of research, can help you in some way.