Stomach Cancer Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)
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At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is offering some patients with advanced and complex abdominal cancers new hope.
HIPEC is a heated, sterilized chemotherapy solution which is delivered directly to the abdomen. The chemotherapy is administered immediately following surgery to remove visible tumors within the abdomen. The goal is to penetrate and destroy cancer cells that remain in the abdomen after surgery.
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a treatment option for people who have advanced surface spread of cancer within the abdomen, without disease involvement outside of the abdomen.
HIPEC enhances and concentrates chemotherapy within the abdomen and improves chemotherapy absorption and susceptibility of cancer cells. In comparison to traditional chemotherapy delivery, HIPEC allows for higher doses of chemotherapy treatment. And because the chemotherapy is kept within the abdomen, it minimizes the rest of the body’s exposure to the treatment. This helps reduce some chemotherapy side effects.
It takes six to 12 hours for the surgery and chemotherapy delivery. After a six-week recovery period, patients then receive traditional, systemic chemotherapy.
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