Cancer of the peritoneum indicates an advanced stage of the disease. Rapid action is required to prevent further spread and increase the chances of survival for those affected. The measures to be taken usually center around a peritonectomy. This is the removal of the affected peritoneum. You can find out exactly what this involves in the following sections. You will also find selected specialists for a peritonectomy here.
A peritonectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the peritoneum. As a rule, such an operation is necessary if the peritoneum is affected by tumors. Doctors refer to this clinical picture as peritoneal carcinomatosis.
The surgical operation usually involves the removal of
If peritoneal carcinomatosis has been diagnosed, surgical intervention is usually unavoidable. The main cause of peritoneal cancer is metastatic, i.e. spreading malignant tumors of the pelvic or abdominal organs. Specifically, these are therefore metastases of other types of cancer in the abdominal cavity. The primary tumors are, for example
If the metastases reach the peritoneum and the abdominal network, the primary tumor is already very advanced.
Individual cancer cells can also break away from an intestinal tumor and reach the peritoneum © freshidea | AdobeStock
Ideally, the intervention at the center of this procedure prevents further complaints, above all a so-called water belly. This is characterized by, among other things
noticeable.
In addition, peritonectomy can extend life expectancy. However, this requires a combination with another advanced measure, known as HIPEC for short. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion is a form of chemotherapy. It involves flushing the inside of the abdominal cavity with chemotherapeutic agents.
Depending on the location of the cancer, an omentectomy may be useful instead of or in addition to a peritonectomy. An omentectomy is the removal of the abdominal mesh and parts of affected organs in the abdomen.
Peritoneal cancer or peritoneal malignancies are generally recognized as a serious, if not incurable, type of cancer. However, modern studies have led to groundbreaking findings that have helped to develop various effective forms of treatment. There are now medical centers that deal specifically with the treatment of this disease.
A major challenge is the fact that peritoneal cancer is often only detected at a very late stage. This often happens more or less by chance, for example when the doctor performs an operation on the original tumor. If peritoneal carcinomatosis is suspected, laparoscopy and computer tomography, among other things, provide clarity.
The most important treatment methods in the case of purely palliative therapy (i.e. not aimed at a cure) include
Both prevent further growth of the cancer. In addition, the tumor is surgically reduced in size so that it causes fewer symptoms such as the digestive problems already mentioned and more.
Several doctors from different disciplines decide whether a surgical procedure is appropriate in individual cases. In addition to oncologists (specialists for malignant cancers), including specialists for peritoneal carcinomatosis, and surgeons, this may also include your family doctor of many years. They know your medical history and your current state of health best.
If a peritonectomy is chosen, relevant examinations such as
are carried out.
Unfortunately, it is often only possible to make a clear statement about the options for a peritonectomy with accompanying chemotherapy during the procedure.
Patients are under general anesthesia for the entire duration of the procedure. This also applies to the subsequent removal of the peritoneum, which can be either complete or partial. The peritonectomy is followed by HIPEC. For the best possible effect, the hyperthermic chemotherapy solution is heated to 40 to 43 degrees before the abdominal cavity is flushed.
Due to the approximately 30-fold concentration with HIPEC compared to other chemotherapeutic treatment methods, the treatment prospects are better. The duration of the flushing varies from case to case and ranges from one to several hours.
Due to the severity of the procedure, aftercare is usually carried out by a medically trained nurse. After the operation, patients remain in the intensive care unit for around a day and are then transferred to a normal hospital room.
Depending on the cancer and the stage of the tumor causing it, medical and nursing aftercare is also provided here. Among others, this involves
are involved.
Further careful observation is necessary due to the complications and risks that may arise. As the body is extremely weakened by the treatment, infections and delayed wound healing are not uncommon.
It is difficult to make general statements about the possible success of treatment. As this clinical picture is characterized by an advanced stage, it is usually only a matter of
The latter can range from several months, ideally up to several years. On average, the chances of survival for people with abdominal cancer are less than a year.
Regular tumor conferences and ongoing research enable the treatment options to be continuously developed. Building on this, the hope remains that the continuous progress of medicine and technology will also increase the chances of recovery for those affected.
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