What are these cancers?
Primary Peritoneal Cancer (PPC) forms in the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen), and has not spread there from another part of the body. Primary peritoneal cancer sometimes spreads to the ovary. It is similar to ovarian epithelial cancer and is staged and treated the same way.
-NCI Definition
In data from 1995-2005, Goodman* found that the incidence rate in the U.S. for PPC was 6.78 per million women compared to 119 per million for ovarian cancer. Women with PPC were diagnosed at a later age (mean 67 years) than ovarian cancer (mean 63 years). (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2706690/)
GTD (Gestational trophoblastic disease) is a rare condition in which abnormal cells grow inside the uterus from tissue that forms after conception (the joining of sperm and egg). This tissue is made of trophoblastic cells, which normally surround the fertilized egg in the uterus and help connect the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus. These cells also form part of the placenta (the organ that passes nutrients from the mother to the fetus). Most GTDs are benign (not cancer) and do not spread, but some types are malignant (cancer) and spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body. The two main types of GTDs are hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma. Also called gestational trophoblastic disease, gestational trophoblastic tumor, and GTT.
-NCI Definition
GTD occurs in 1 out of 1000 pregnancies in the US. It less than 1% of all gynecologic cancers. GTD is more common in Africa and Asia than in North America. (http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/gestational-trophoblastic-disease/statistics)
You can learn more about GTD or Primary Peritoneal Cancer by joining our chat and reading these pages on the NCI website.
- GTD https://www.cancer.gov/types/gestational-trophoblastic/patient/gtd-treatment-pdq
- Primary Peritoneal Cancer is treated like ovarian cancer and is included with the NCI Ovarian cancer information. https://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-epithelial-treatment-pdq
http://gyncsm.blogspot.com/2015/04/survivors-story-gtd-and-me-story-of.html
Part of #gyncsm's mission is to support those impacted by all gynecologic cancers. One way we can do this is to offer information on rare gynecologic cancers and support survivors of those cancers. #gyncsm will be participating in the #Dazzle4Rare social media campaign during August 13-19. Check out that tag to learn more about rare disease and share your own story.
We hope you will join us as we raise awareness of the risks of these rare gynecologic cancers, support the women impacted by them, and support the clinicians and researchers who focus on treating these rare cancers.
We look forward to chatting with you on Wednesday, August 9th at 9pm EST (8pm CST/ 6pm PST).
Guiding our discussion will be the following topic questions:
T1: What is Primary Peritoneal Cancer (PPC)? Why is it treated like ovarian cancer?
T2: Are there risk factors and symptoms of Primary Peritoneal Cancer (PPC)? Is there a known genetic mutation that increases risk?
T3: What is Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTDisease)? What types of GTDisease are there? Are they all malignant?
T4: What are the risk factors and other important things to know for GTDisease? Is there a known genetic mutation that raises risk?
T5: Are there any special support services for these two rare cancers? Where can people learn more?
Dee
Co-founder #gyncsm
*Goodman Study
