There are certain types of cancers which are difficult to treat. Cancers such as “Colon Cancers”, “ovarian cancer” which spread to the peritoneum only and not elsewhere are difficult to treat as the chemotherapy finds itself difficult to reach the peritoneum surface and hence these tumors are best treated by HIPEC.
1. So, what is Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)?
HIPEC stands for Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. Certain cancers which are limited to the peritoneum lining can receive HIPEC. In basic terms, it’s a chemotherapy medicine that is heated to around 42 degrees Celsius so that it penetrates tissues better. Conventional injectable chemotherapy is not able to reach the peritoneal surface, and HIPEC delivers chemotherapy directly to the cancer cells in the abdomen.
2. What all cancers can be treated by HIPEC surgery?
Certain cancers such as colon cancers, ovarian cancers, gastric cancers, mesothelioma, primary peritoneal carcinomatosis, and appendiceal cancers can be treated by HIPEC surgery. Dr. Archit is one of the “Best HIPEC Surgeons in South Delhi”
3. Can HIPEC be done in all patients who suffer from the above-mentioned cancers?
NO, HIPEC is a very selective procedure which can only be done in those patients of the above-mentioned cancers in whom the tumour has not spread beyond the peritoneum. For e.g., if the disease has gone to the liver or lungs or other parts of the body, then HIPEC is contraindicated.
4. Is HIPEC surgery risky?
NO. Despite the complexity of the surgery and the hemodynamic changes that happen during the surgery nowadays, HIPEC is a safe surgery with life risk not ranging beyond 3 % in experienced hands.
5. Can HIPEC be performed in any Centre?
NO. It’s important to realise that HIPEC is a specialised procedure, and it can be performed best by those who have good experience in handling this surgery. A good anaesthesia unit is equally important as the surgeon who is performing the surgery.
Nowadays we are seeing more and more patients surviving the 5yr survival barrier with good Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC surgery as compared to years back when we used to call these patients incurable.
Refer to our patient testimonial below, who is now a 5-year cancer survivor who had Stage IIIC ovarian cancer. A few years back, we used to consider these patients inoperable and incurable; however, now we can aim for a cure in these subsets of patients.
6. How is HIPEC performed?
Phase I: Cytoreductive Surgery.
Firstly, the doctor performs cytoreductive surgery to evacuate as much tumour as possible from the abdominal cavity.
Without this surgery, HIPEC is ineffective because the chemotherapy drugs are not able to penetrate deep into cancerous tumours.
Phase II: Chemotherapy Bath.
In this phase, if there are any remaining cancer cells that are left after heated chemotherapy, then immediately Chemotherapy Bath surgery is performed to extend survival and prevent cancer recurrence.
In this phase, if there are any remaining cancer cells that are left after heated chemotherapy, then immediately Chemotherapy Bath surgery is performed to extend survival and prevent cancer recurrence.
Common chemotherapy drugs used are gemcitabine, carboplatin, doxorubicin, pemetrexed, and cisplatin. Rather than injecting these drugs directly into your blood, doctors deliver them directly to the patient’s abdomen or chest.
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