Peritoneal pseudomicroma
The story of a woman who had eight organs removed after being diagnosed with a rare cancer returned to work was shared.
According to the British BBC, Fay Lewis, who lives in Horsham, West Sussex, England, underwent surgery called the ‘mother of all surgeries’ after being diagnosed with ‘Pseudomyxoma Peritonei’, a rare cancer that occurs in the abdominal cavity. received. This extensive surgery required the removal of the spleen, gallbladder, appendix, ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, navel, part of the omentum and omentum connecting the stomach and duodenum, and part of the liver. The process of removing cancer cells was also carried out in the diaphragm and pelvis.
“The job is very physically demanding, but I love aviation and I’m delighted to be back in this role,” he told BBC Radio Sussex after returning to work as a flight dispatcher at Gatwick Airport after surgery.
Lewis, who began experiencing pain in the spring of 2023, initially thought it was menstrual cramps until an ovarian cyst was discovered on an ultrasound scan. During surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, he was diagnosed with peritoneal pseudomicromas.
As a result, he had to undergo surgery to remove eight organs. The surgery was successful, but I still need to get checked out every November. “Sadly, I have to decide how I spend Christmas each year based on the outcome, but I will keep moving forward and never give up,” Lewis said. “Some days I would sink into the abyss of despair, but now I have more positive days.” .
As soon as he returned to work, he donated money to Cancer Research UK and took part in a running race to raise money for the charity.
A rare cancer that mainly starts from mucinous tumors of the appendix or ovary… High risk of recurrence
Pseudomicroma Peritoneum (PMP), which Lewis suffered from, is a very rare disease in which mucinous substances accumulate in the abdominal cavity. It mainly occurs in mucinous tumors of the appendix or ovary. As the tumor ruptures, mucus material and tumor cells spread into the abdominal cavity and attach to the peritoneal surface, and mucus material is continuously produced. This may cause symptoms such as abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, indigestion, weight gain, or intestinal obstruction. In the beginning, symptoms are mild or non-specific, making diagnosis difficult, but as the disease progresses, various symptoms occur due to accumulation of mucous substances and pressure on organs.
The main cause of pseudomicromas peritoneum is a mucinous tumor of the appendix, which is where most cases begin. In rare cases, it may appear in other abdominal organs such as the ovaries, colon, and stomach. Diagnosis is mainly made through imaging tests such as CT scans and biopsies, and the characteristics and progression of the disease are evaluated through tumor marker tests.
The key treatment is surgery to remove the tumor and mucus material. It is known that the most effective method is a combination of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). This method involves removing mucous substances and tumors in the abdominal cavity through surgery and then injecting high-temperature anticancer drugs directly into the abdominal cavity to remove remaining tumor cells. These treatments can reduce the likelihood of recurrence and significantly improve survival rates.
Pseudomicroma peritoneum is a disease with a high risk of recurrence, and regular follow-up is required even after treatment. The condition is continuously monitored with CT scans and blood tests, and additional treatment may be required if recurrence occurs. Although it is very rare, if it is detected early and receives appropriate treatment, there is a chance of cure and quality of life can be maintained.
Source: kormedi.com
