hipec

Chelsea71 said:

Even though the omentum is
Even though the omentum is gone, there is likely residual tumor cells floating around the abdominal cavity. The idea is that the heated chemotherapy will destroy these cells before they are able to form a new tumor and latch on to an organ. Heated chemo is much more effective (I've hear 70 - 100%). The fact that they are applying it directly is important, as well. Systemic chemo is less effective for cancer in the abdominal cavity. The blood/peritoneal barrier makes it harder for system chemo to reach this area. My husbands surgeon told us that the application of the "hot chemo" is not the dangerous part of the surgery. The risk is with the removal of the cancer and resecting of the organs. In your fathers case that has already been done. The recovery would be easier than compared to my husband who required a lot of resecting prior to the heated chemo application.

Having said that, you're right. I would think your Dad would need significant time to recover physically and mentally from the last surgery. HIPEC is a biggie. He would want to go into it feeling very strong and motivated to fight. In some cases, there seems to be no big hurry to do HIPEC. I'm sure it varies with each patient. This surgery would likely be available to him down the road. I would see what the onc has to say about doing the systemic chemo first, taking a break and then revisiting the idea of HIPEC.

Chelsea

Whats d diffence betwn palliative chemo and curative chemo? Is the dosage diffrent but medicines the same?

the oncologist i met said he is considering my fathers case as palliative and will do 6 cycles of folfox 6

(5fu , leucovorin, ocaliplatin)