When debulking?

SOPHIE333
SOPHIE333 Member Posts: 92
in Peritoneal Cancer #1
Hi all again,
I have a question on debulking. Is it possible even if you have stage IV? Have any of you done this when being in stage IV?

Thanks,
Sophie

Comments

  • westie66
    westie66 Member Posts: 642
    #2
    Debulking
    Hi: I asked my oncologist about debulking vs stripping this morning. He said that debulking is used to remove as much of the tumour(s) as possible and then chemo usually follows. Stripping is a much more serious and long operation - it removes the peritoneum and the tumours on it and is usually followed by HIPEC. You usually can't get it (at least here in Canada) if you have metatasis anywhere else. That's as much as I know.
    Cheryl
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #3
    westie66 said:

    Debulking
    Hi: I asked my oncologist about debulking vs stripping this morning. He said that debulking is used to remove as much of the tumour(s) as possible and then chemo usually follows. Stripping is a much more serious and long operation - it removes the peritoneum and the tumours on it and is usually followed by HIPEC. You usually can't get it (at least here in Canada) if you have metatasis anywhere else. That's as much as I know.
    Cheryl

    Yet I had major debulking
    Yet I had major debulking precisely because I was stage 4, and needed the tumors removed. However, mine was stage 4 appendix cancer with peritoneal spread. It depends on the type of cancer cells.
  • westie66
    westie66 Member Posts: 642
    #4
    abrub said:

    Yet I had major debulking
    Yet I had major debulking precisely because I was stage 4, and needed the tumors removed. However, mine was stage 4 appendix cancer with peritoneal spread. It depends on the type of cancer cells.

    Peritoneal Stripping
    Yes, I, too have secondary peritoneal cancer spread from the gallbladder. And I was in line for the stripping surgery because my peritoneal cancer was stable from chemo (oxaliplatin + irenotecan + 5FU). But now there appears to be spread to the liver. And that is the cruncher. If I didn't have that 2nd spread to the liver ... Apparently, from what I hear, the most success has been with ovarian and appendix cancer spread to the peritoneum. Gallbladder cancer has had no success yet. Colon cancer some success.
    Cheryl

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