HIPEC is a treatment for some types of cancers that are found in the belly area, like appendix cancer. It stands for “Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.” This special treatment involves giving strong medicine (called chemotherapy) directly to the belly area, where the cancer is.
Using HIPEC to treat cancers in the belly area has some possible benefits. Some of these benefits include:
- Targeted delivery:
HIPEC allows for the direct delivery of chemotherapy drugs to the abdominal cavity, which can increase the concentration of the drugs in the area where they are needed most. - Enhanced effectiveness:
By heating the chemotherapy drugs to a high temperature, HIPEC can improve the ability of the drugs to penetrate tumour tissues and increase their effectiveness against cancer cells. - Minimally invasive:
HIPEC is typically performed laparoscopically, which is a minimally invasive technique that can result in faster recovery times and reduced pain compared to traditional open surgery. - Reduced risk of systemic toxicity:
Since HIPEC delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to the abdominal cavity, it can help minimize the risk of systemic toxicity and side effects that may be associated with traditional chemotherapy. - Improved survival rates:
Studies have shown that HIPEC can lead to improved survival rates and better quality of life for patients with advanced abdominal cancers like PMP.
The success of the treatment depends on whether the surgeon can remove all the cancer and provide intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The goal is to either cure the cancer or decrease the likelihood of it returning.
Written by the Pseudeomyxoma Survivor editorial team
Updated March 31st, 2023
References
The Role of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Pseudomyxoma Peritonei After Cytoreductive Surgery
Cytoreductive surgery alone or combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for pseudomyxoma peritonei.
Pasquali S, Sommariva A, Mahteme H, Suo T, Ma H, Tropea S, Steenberg JL, Mocellin S (2018, 27 October). Cytoreductive surgery alone or combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for pseudomyxoma peritonei. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD005659. Retrieved on April 5, 2023, from doi: 0.1002/14651858.CD005659.pub3.
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