The HIPEC Treatment at Surgical Associates of La Jolla
Cancer of the colon, ovaries, appendix, or other abdominal organs can spread within the lining of the abdominal cavity. When this happens, it is referred to as a peritoneal surface malignancy or peritoneal carcinomatosis. Two additional types of cancer that can result in peritoneal carcinomatosis are primary mesothelioma and pseudomyxoma peritonei. Surprisingly, some cancer patients may have peritoneal carcinomatosis and not even know it! They may be told that their cancer is "advanced," "late-stage," or "spread throughout the abdomen" and is not treatable or is incurable.
Until recently, treatment options in these cases could provide only relief for symptoms; however, the treatments could not stop the spread of cancer or prolong life. Now, the surgeons Surgical Associates of La Jolla offer the unique option of combining surgery with a procedure called HIPEC, or Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
What is HIPEC?
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a procedure performed during the operation while the patient is still in the operating room. We circulate heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity, where it can penetrate and kill diseased tissue directly.
During the HIPEC treatment, a surgeon first removes as much visible cancer as possible in a procedure known as cyto-reduction. Then, the surgeon circulates heated chemotherapy throughout the abdomen to kill the remaining cancer cells that are too small to be manually removed. The heated chemotherapy is circulated for 90 to 120 minutes by a specialized FDA approved machine. When this step is complete, the chemotherapy is removed, the abdomen is flushed, and the circulating tubes are removed.
This combination therapy is effective in slowing or preventing recurrence of the disease. HIPEC can add quality months, and even years, to the patient's life.
How HIPEC Works
Heat can kill cancer cells at temperatures at which normal cells remain unharmed. Heating chemotherapy makes the agents more effective at killing cancer cells than they would be the case at normal temperatures. Circulating the heated chemotherapy throughout the abdominal cavity allows the drugs to be distributed thoroughly and to penetrate the areas of cancer directly. By delivering this directly to the tumor, many of the side effects associated with intravenous administration of these powerful agents can be avoided.
Am I a candidate for HIPEC?
Because the HIPEC treatment is a major procedure that requires substantial recovery time, it is not without risk. HIPEC is not for everyone. A surgeon who specializes in HIPEC at Surgical Associates of La Jolla can discuss with you the potential risks and benefits associated with the treatment and determine whether this procedure is right for you.
Contact Surgical Associates of La Jolla
Unlike traditional cancer treatments that treat only the symptoms of abdominal cancers, the HIPEC treatment can actually stop the growth of abdominal cancers and, ultimately, extend the patient's life. To learn more about your cancer treatment options, including HIPEC, please contact Surgical Associates of La Jolla and schedule a private consultation today.
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Contact Surgical Associates of La Jolla to find out if the HIPEC treatment is right for you.
Surgical Associates of La Jolla
Dr. Paul Hyde
Dr. Mark Sherman
Dr. Cheryl Olson
9850 Genesee Ave., Suite 660
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 452-5054
Fax: (858) 452-5097
La Jolla Weight Management
Dr. Mark Sherman
Dr. Cheryl Olson
9850 Genesee Ave., Suite 660
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 452-5054
Fax: (858) 452-5097
To view this, you need to install the Flash Player 9. Please go to here and download it.
