The Omentum Project Mission:
To Improve the Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors
Living Without an Omentum through:
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Awareness
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Education
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Informal Research
About The Omentum Project Blog
Why the omentum?
I am living without an omentum. I am an ovarian cancer survivor who experienced digestive issues post my cancer staging surgery. After many months, an observant physical therapist, and a wonderful GI doctor figured out the issues can at least partially be attributed to the removal of my omentum (standard procedure with ovarian cancer since cancer cells have a propensity to "hide" there).
This has made me think that perhaps there are other cancer survivors also experiencing digestive issues stemming from the removal of their omentum. I have learned that there is very little known about the omentum, in general; the omentum is an under-studied organ.
The human body is amazing; redundancy is present to help ensure survival. People live without an appendix, and without a spleen... and without an omentum. The omentum is known to be part of the immune system and the lymphatic system, and may play a role in thermoregulation. Perhaps the omentum is under-appreciated.
QUESTIONS IN NEED OF ANSWERS:
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What percentage of cancer survivors living without an omentum experience digestive issues?
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What role does the omentum play in digestion?
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Do omentum-less cancer survivors experience deposition of excess solids in their abdominal cavity?
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Is scar tissue a contributing factor? No doubt removing the omentum creates significant scar tissue; do manual therapy modalities alleviate symptoms?
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Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
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Lymphedema Techniques
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Myofascial Release Physical Therapy
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Visceral Manipulation Physical Therapy
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Evaluation of potential strategies to relieve symptoms experienced by some omentum-less cancer survivors:
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Yoga/Pilates
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Aqua Therapy
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Kinesio Tape
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Mini-trampoline
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Vigorous cardio (aka "intensity minutes")
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BIOLOGY Questions - rat/mouse studies:
Two cohorts: one group with an omentum; a second group without an omentum
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Do the two groups have the same ability to digest/process: fat? fiber? salt?
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Document fluid retention differences between the two cohorts
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Are there differences in respiration/metabolism between the two cohorts?
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Does the omentum-less cohort:
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develop abdominal lymphedema?
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experience edema in the peritoneal cavity (ascites)
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experience fat deposits in the abdominal cavity?
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EMAIL: theOmentumProject@gmail.com
THANK YOU ...
... to the many individuals contributing their time and expertise to The Omentum Project!
Katie Amo, Videographer
Nancy Amo, Uterine Cancer Survivor & Advocate
Sarah Avery, DPT, MTY
Nancy B. Clemente, OTR/L, Founder Nancy B. Clemente Cancer Fund
Shea Foley, Ovarian Cancer Advocate
Carole Heaney, RN, MS NBC-HWC
Cassie Lembo-Sheridan, Ovarian Cancer Survivor & Advocate
Jillian Mertzloff, Certified Personal Trainer
Dr. Nick Montalto, Gynecological Surgeon
Sandra Sanderson, Certified Lymphedema Specialist
Dr. Anita Burock Stotts, Functional Medicine Practitioner
Meg Wilkinson, Ovarian Cancer Survivor & Advocate
$$$$$$$
EMAIL:
LOGO:
The twisted ribbon oval has many symbolism aspects:
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the oval is an "O", for "Omentum";
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twisted ribbons, are often used for cancer awareness;
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the black and white and silver-gray: the status of information known about the omentum
(e.g. some information clear, "black and white"; much still to be learned... "silver-gray";
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the "silver-gray", a reminder of the saying "every cloud has a silver lining"