What is Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma?

This information was provided by the American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_ovarian_can....

Primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) is a rare cancer closely related to epithelial ovarian cancer. At surgery, it looks the same as an epithelial ovarian cancer that has spread through the abdomen. Under a microscope, PPC also looks just like epithelial ovarian cancer. Other names for this cancer include extra-ovarian (meaning outside the ovary) primary peritoneal carcinoma (EOPPC) or serous surface papillary carcinoma. Primary peritoneal carcinoma develops in cells from the lining of the pelvis and abdomen (which is called the peritoneum). These cells are very similar to the cells on the surface of the ovaries. Like ovarian cancer, PPC tends to spread along the surfaces of the pelvis and abdomen, so it is often difficult to tell exactly where the cancer first started. This type of cancer can occur in women who still have their ovaries, but it is of more concern for women who have had their ovaries removed to prevent ovarian cancer.

Symptoms of PPC are similar to those of ovarian cancer, including:

  • abdominal pain or bloating
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • indigestion
  • a change in bowel habits
  • elevated blood level of a tumor marker called CA-125

Women with PPC usually get the same treatment as those with widespread ovarian cancer. This could include surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible (this process is called debulking) followed by chemotherapy like that given for ovarian cancer. Its outlook is similar to widespread ovarian cancer.

What is Debulking?
The other important goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible - this is called debulking. Debulking is very important in any patient with ovarian cancer that has already spread widely throughout the abdomen at the time of surgery. The aim of debulking surgery is to leave behind no tumors larger than 1 cm. Patients who have had successful debulking surgery have a better outlook than those left with larger tumors after surgery.

It is important that your surgeon is experienced in ovarian cancer surgery. Many gynecologists and surgeons are not trained to do the staging and debulking procedures that are necessary in treating ovarian cancer. For this reason, experts recommend that patients see a gynecologic oncologist for surgery. Gynecologic oncologists are specialists who have training and experience in treating ovarian cancer, and know how to stage and debulk ovarian cancer properly. Women with ovarian cancer who don't have the right surgery the first time may need to go back to the operating room for more surgery later to stage and debulk the cancer.

Removing both ovaries and/or the uterus means that you will not be able to become pregnant. It also means that you will go into menopause if you have not done so already. Most women will stay in the hospital for 3 to 7 days after the operation and can resume their usual activities within 4 to 6 weeks.