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Due to bad lifestyle, uncontrolled eating habits and busy life, many such serious diseases silently take root in our body, the initial symptoms of which are often ignored by common people considering them as minor health problems. Nowadays, stomach related problems like indigestion, acidity, gas formation and flatulence have become very common, due to which people avoid going to the doctor. However, do you know that if your stomach is constantly bloating, there is no relief from the gas problem and the size of the stomach is increasing abnormally, then it can be an early sign not of any normal gastric problem but of a very rare and serious disease i.e. ‘Peritoneal Cancer’? If this dangerous disease is not identified in time, it can prove fatal. Let us know in detail what is peritoneal cancer, what are its main symptoms and how it can be identified.
#1. What is Peritoneal Cancer and what is its relation with flatulence?
Peritoneal cancer is a rare cancer that affects the thin and delicate membrane called ‘peritoneum’. This membrane completely lines the inside of our stomach and protects all the abdominal organs such as intestines, stomach, liver and pancreas. When the cells of this membrane start growing abnormally and uncontrolled, tumors start forming. Due to this serious condition, excessive amount of fluid gradually starts accumulating inside the stomach, which is called ‘Ascites’ in medical language. Due to the growth of fluid and tumor, the patient’s stomach begins to swell rapidly, heaviness is felt and it appears as if the weight has increased a lot, while in reality it is water accumulated in the stomach due to cancer.
#1. What is the main difference between common gas and flatulence caused by peritoneal cancer?
Often people consider bloating due to gas or constipation as normal and adopt home remedies, but the symptoms of peritoneal cancer are quite different and serious from the normal gas problem. If the size of your stomach is continuously increasing without any apparent reason, your stomach feels hard when touched, and there is no relief even after taking antacids or gas medicines, then it can be an alarm bell. Apart from this, patients suffering from peritoneal cancer have to face problems like constant pain in the stomach, cramps, swelling around the navel and difficulty in breathing while lying down. If such symptoms persist for weeks, it should not be ignored at all and a good oncologist or gastroenterologist should be immediately contacted.
#1. Other major and hidden symptoms of peritoneal cancer
Apart from flatulence and gas, there are some other physical symptoms of peritoneal cancer which point towards this disease. These include sudden rapid weight loss without any dieting, early satiety, constant nausea, feeling like vomiting, extreme fatigue and weakness, and sudden major change in bowel habits. In women, this cancer can be associated with ovarian cancer, so pain in the pelvic area or bleeding other than periods should also be taken seriously. These persistent problems in the body indicate that some serious imbalance is occurring in the internal organs.
#1. How is Peritoneal Cancer Accurately Diagnosed and Diagnosed?
Peritoneal cancer is a bit challenging to detect in its early stages because its symptoms are similar to common digestive disorders. However, its accurate identification is possible through modern medical science and diagnostic techniques. The doctor first understands the severity of the patient’s symptoms and recommends some basic and advanced tests. This includes abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and biopsy of the fluid accumulated in the stomach (Ascitic Fluid Cytology). In addition, testing tumor markers (such as CA-125) also detects the presence of cancer cells. If this disease is identified on time, the patient’s life can be saved through surgery, chemotherapy and modern targeted therapy. Health experts advise not to take any abnormal changes in the body lightly and keep getting regular health checkups done.