In 2016, 15 months after my most cancers prognosis, and 9 months after finishing chemo, I went on my first work journey to Washington, D.C. On the best way dwelling, I known as my oncologist’s workplace and scheduled an appointment. I used to be bloated; I appeared 4 months pregnant, once more. “Bloating,” or stomach distension as I desire to name it, is without doubt one of the signs of ovarian most cancers; I had skilled stomach distension a number of months earlier than I came upon I had most cancers.
Right here I used to be once more: my stomach trying prefer it did earlier than I had most cancers and I used to be terrified that I used to be experiencing a recurrence. Fortunately, blood work and scans confirmed no indicators of most cancers. Then, I spent months conducting detective work, going to totally different medical professionals attempting to resolve my digestive points.
After months of asking questions and consulting with my medical doctors, it turned clear {that a} little-known organ, the omentum, was possible a bit of the puzzle.
Momentum for Omentum Analysis
Latest analysis is digging into this fascinating organ throughout the medical area. It’s featured in a number of current analysis articles highlighting purposes with mind most cancers, lymphedema and Alzheimer’s Illness.
But, the primary time I heard the phrase “omentum” was studying my 2014 ovarian most cancers staging report which listed “omentectomy.” After I requested about it, medical doctors mentioned that I didn’t want the organ, and that it was only a layer of fats. Whereas that data is true, the omentum can be a part of the immune system and the lymphatic system and is well-known to assist course of stomach fluids. The organ is commonly eliminated in ovarian most cancers staging surgical procedure, in addition to another most cancers surgical procedures, resulting from its propensity to “collect” most cancers cells.
Fortunately, different elements of my physique have picked up many of the slack within the 10 years since my omentectomy. Nevertheless, despite the truth that I completely can reside with out it — and that an omentectomy was vital for my most cancers remedy — it clearly performs an enormous position within the physique. Realizing extra about it might empower me in addition to 1000’s of different most cancers survivors dwelling with out an omentum to enhance their high quality of life after surgical procedure.
With the assistance of a number of great medical professionals, we realized the dearth of an omentum, with its potential to assist course of stomach fluids, was one of many causes I used to be experiencing the extreme stomach distension and consuming salty meals was a set off.
I later came upon that I wasn’t the one one.
Over the subsequent a number of months, I related with different most cancers survivors dwelling with out an omentum and discovered as a lot as I might about this mysterious organ. Along with a small workforce of volunteers additionally within the omentum, we shaped The Omentum Challenge. With the assistance of many volunteers, medical professionals and the Nancy B. Clemente Most cancers Fund, we’ve got launched an Institutional Assessment Board-approved research, “Processing Salt with/with out an omentum.”
Most cancers Recurrence and Renewed Willpower
This omentum momentum (pardon the pun) screeched to a halt once I skilled a recurrence of ovarian most cancers in 2023. After surgical procedure and chemo, I’m as soon as once more NED (no proof of illness).
My recurrence has given me a renewed willpower to proceed to work with The Omentum Challenge workforce to maneuver ahead with studying extra about dwelling with out an omentum. I’ve constantly skilled digestive points from 2015 on; the development from points associated to my omentectomy to these associated to a recurrence of ovarian most cancers had been very, very refined — too laborious for me to tease aside. Having extra details about the way to reside with out an omentum, and the way to reside with fewer digestive points, could assist to tease out most cancers recurrence signs in girls like me.
Beating most cancers is a feat in and of itself. Let’s assist these survivors reside the very best lives they will post-cancer.
In regards to the Creator
Meg is a two-time ovarian most cancers survivor (2014 & 2023). She enjoys strolling, biking, tai chi and yoga in addition to spending time together with her household and associates.Along with The Omentum Challenge workforce, she is decided to assist most cancers survivors dwelling with out an omentum. Study extra: theOmentumProject.org
This submit was written and submitted by Meg Wilkinson. The article displays the views of Wilkinson and never of CURE®. That is additionally not presupposed to be supposed as medical recommendation.
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