Hi Everyone,
I tried to get on a message board for PPC but they didn't have a topic for it. So I hope I'm at the right place. I started reading many of the messages and was amazed at all of us women who are dealing with, or know someone who is dealing with this rare, almost unheard of type of cancer. My mom lives in Tuscon and was recently diagnosed. She had most of the symptoms discussed here, the fluid retention, bowel problems and of course, they "thought" it was ovarian. The sickest part about this cancer is it's a silent killer. It goes undiagnosed due to the location and type of cells it effects. Since the cells of the peritoneum are same as the ovaries, the cells appear to be ovarian in nature, but as some of you know, the fluid our loved ones start retaining is filled with the cancers cells from the whole peritoneal area which lines the entire abdominal cavity, therefore making it difficult for the lab tech to pinpoint the "origin". Since modern medicine is geared to "pinpoint" a cancer, whereby they can just remove it, this cancer is a nasty one.
Like most women, my mom is in the hospital recovering from the initial hysterectomy, removeal of the large tumer of the Omentum, and has tons of small cancer nodules located on the mesentary of the bowels. Unfortunately, the nodules can not be removed surgically, and she does have the fluid retaining & side effects. Right now we are getting her well enough to go home and ready for the chemo. My mom also has the complications from being a life-long heavy smoker, so she is dealing with the horrible affects of not being able to breathe too good.
I've read up on this extensively. My own prognosis for mom is to always hope for the best. I don't care what the statisics are, or the percentages. My mom is a human being fighting for her life in order to get through to the next level. My God is a healing , miracle working God. He has healed blind people, cured diseases & given hope to the hopeless, so I call it as though it was.....She is Healed in the name of Jesus...the person who wrote "don't give anyone false hope"...is in need of friend who Believes that all things all possible. So I will be your friend!!!
I plan on starting a foundation for this dreaded disease and if anyone is interested in writing to me personally, or sharing please feel free.
--- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, email address removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ---- Let's keep in touch
Barbara