Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma

My mom was diagnosed with Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma last march. I am having a very difficult time finding information on this type of cancer. Her doctor tells us it behaves and is treated the same as ovarian cancer. She is getting ready to have her 6th chemotherapy treatment and I am worried because her ca-125 was originally 2938 and after she had surgery and 5 chemo treatments her ca-125 was down to 91 and all of a sudden it is now up to 111. Does anyone have any information on my mom’s cancer or what this ca-125 going up may mean? Deb H., MN

I know your message is a year old...but I am new to this sight. My mom was diagnosed with the same thing in December 2003. Just wanted to visit with someone that had the same situation---and basically no place to find information.

I just found this website. my mom was diagnoised 2 years ago with pertoneal carcinoma. she is in her 2nd year of chemo treatments. 1st year was conventional chemo and the last year she is on research treatments. Her # has fluxuated from 91 to 1700 in the last 2 years. She was told there is nothing to do surgury on, because all of her cancer is in the fluid and not in the lining or in the wall. Is there hope?

Hi, my mum was diagnosed with this cancer in march 2004. She was initially given 3-6months but is still going well. Her problem is that 4 months prior to the diagnosis she suffered a massive heart attack and was clinically dead for 2 mins.Consequently she cannot have chemo, radiation therapy or surgery as her heart and kidneys are too impaired. However, she has been having regular drains. She has 4.5litres of fluid taken from her stomache every week. She is on morphine for the pain and has anti-nausea and sleeping pills for comfort. All in all she's doing ok, just slowly getting weaker. But at least her quality of life is quite good.Her problem now is her lack of appetite and she feels itchy all over.Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi Im lorena, I wanted to know how is your mom doing? Im praying for her, I do hope she's getting better. My mom was diagnosed with the same cancer too and I cant find any informacion about it, Im so worried, please write me back and let me know about your mother, God bless you and you take care

My mother was diagnosed with primary peritoneal carcinoma in sept of 2005 she was started on chemo and in dec she that round of chemo was stopped to see what happened when she stopped from dec to jan fluid starting building up in abdomen and she had surgery feb 22 2006 and they took of 6 pounds of fluid and they also did a hystorectomy and her bowels had to be untangled because the cancer had wrapped around her bowels and that evidentally was the reason she was having trouble with her bowels and wasnt able to eat well she is starting a different chemo march 24 but i dont know if it will help because everything i have read and heard from the doctors is there is no cure I know this is a 2003 and three message but i hope you will respond back and tell how your mother is doing now I hope all is well sincerely tonya

Hi Tonya B,
I am sorry your mom is going through all this. This is certainly a 'mean' cancer. I say mean because it seems to just grow more aggressive when the treatments start. My mom was diagnosed in December 2003. Went through the conventional surgery and chemo. Her marker was over 1400 before surgery and by the end of her chemo it was at 87. But that was the lowest it went. She began several other types of chemo therapy. But nothing worked. In October of 2004 she began having to get the fluid drained from her abdomen because she could not take the pressure. (that draining happened like every 2 weeks.) The day after Christmas she went for a tranfusion and she got sick at the chemo center so they transferred her to the hospital. She had a bowel obstruction and the oncologist basically said there was no point in doing surgery to remove it-she would not survive it. She was in hospice for about 7 days and passed away on my parents' 55th wedding anniversary. I guess i'm telling you this because I know how frightened you may be--I've been there. You are not alone. I know there is no information out there that is good for Peritoneal cancer. But the fact that they were able to do surgery on your mom makes me think they believe she can have some quality life. Length of life, they cannot predict. But perhaps the quality of life that is left can be good for your mom. Girlfriend, I know what you and your family are going through. I will keep you in my prayers and will be here to "talk" if you need! You take care of yourself and love your little mom with all your heart!
Petunia in Texas

hi my mum was diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer today many of you know on here it hits u like a brick. she was rushed into hospital last tuesday with abdominal pain and fluid in her stomache its took them a week to find out what it was.she was drained for 5 days but had to stop or she could get infected. she was told today about her chemo treatment which will start tomorrow.they wont send her home until the fluid slows down.they say that if she doesnt have this treament she will die very soon in amatter of months or weeks.im terrified i havent heard anyone say that they have survived this or anything yet ? im scared of what will happen ,what to expect?i know alot are in same boat and be good to talk to people who are going through the same.anyone got any advice for me? im going out of my mind!

I have found this board to be very helpful in my quest for the answer to my health problems. I unfortunately think this cancer may be a possibility for me. I cant seem to get an answer from doctors other than "well, that's just the way it is...." or "it cant be anything, you dont have anything left". In any case, what really got to me was someone asking me when I was due the other day. I have gained weight TERRIBLY since my ovaries were removed, but most noticably in my abdomen. Also, my stomach hurts often, I have diahrrea all the time, I stay fatigued, and most recently, I am having the MOST horrible hot flashes. It has been almost 2 years since the surgery, and I have never had hot flashes like this. Can anyone tell me a little more about the symptoms? And is your stomach hard or soft? (sometimes mine is hard, other times just feels like fat) The upset stomach episodes are violent sometimes. I would appreciate any help as everyone seems to be a wealth of information. What worries me MOST is the odd coincidences leading to this. I just began a brand new job, a fellow trainee is the one that asked me when I was due, (which upset me greatly)an e-mail was sent to me today by a former co-worker on this cancer that I have never heard of before (and I havent talked to her in a year, so she doesnt know any of this) and the most coincidental and scary fact of all: My new job is with a Hospice Agency. I am terrified.

Hi...I'm sorry to hear about your mum. My mom was diagnosed 5 years ago with primary peritoneal cancer, so I've been in the same boat you're in now. My mom passed away almost two months ago, so I'm now in a new boat and dealing with all of the emotions that go along with it. I was close with my mom, as it sounds like you are. I was wondering how you and your mum are doing. I am grateful to have been able to spend as much time with my mom as I did. She was a courageous woman, and we all need to be that way when it comes to this disease. I hope you get this message.