Warning Signs Of Peritoneal Cancer

Shortness Of Breath

Patients with advanced peritoneal cancer may experience shortness of breath, since as the cancer advances, it causes a buildup of fluid in the abdomen called ascites. This buildup causes the abdomen to expand, increasing pressure on the lungs. Peritoneal cancer also lowers the number of red blood cells in the body, which help carry oxygen and other nutrients to the heart, brain, and lungs. The decrease in red blood cells causes the amount of oxygen transported to the lungs to be limited and a feeling of breathlessness. Shortness of breath may occur during periods of physical activity, such as walking or exercising, or during periods of rest.

Nausea And Vomiting

Individuals who have peritoneal cancer can experience nausea and vomiting as a symptom of their malignancy. Peritoneal cancer is a malignancy that occurs in the abdominal lining tissue covering the bladder, rectum, and uterus called the peritoneum. A malignant tumor that grows to be a large size in the peritoneum can cause the organs in the abdominal cavity to become compressed together. Should an affected individual overeat, they may experience nausea and vomiting as a result of too much pressure on the food in their stomach. Furthermore, a tumor growing in the peritoneum can expand to obstruct the bowel completely. This obstruction stops the leftover part of the digested food from moving past that point in the digestive tract. The waste buildup causes intense pain, severe nausea, vomiting large amounts, and may result in sepsis. The movement of food may be slowed in the gastrointestinal tract due to the compression of nerves responsible for moving food through the stomach and intestines. This slowed movement allows for bacteria to colonize in the stomach and or small intestine inappropriately, which causes an affected individual to experience nausea and vomiting.