cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC-- what is this?

HIPEC
I had a HIPEC after I went in for a liver resection and they found active disease on my diaphragm. I ended up having the disease taken off my diaphragm, radio frequency ablation on some small spot on the liver and then a HIPEC.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH WHO YOU GET TO DO IT!!!!!

It is not a common procedure although it is being used more.

I had mine at Duke.

When I first looked it up, I saw mostly stuff about HIPEC and cervical or uterine cancer - can't remember which. But I do remember there is a video of the procedure floating around the Internet somewhere. I didn't want to watch it.

I think several people on this board have had HIPEC - all with different experiences. My recovery was pretty easy except for the first two days. Wow, pain! But they had my butt up and walking the next day and I walked around that hopsital many, many times a day when I was there. It helped so much. I was in the hospital for 7 days and they let me return to my hometown instead of staying in a nearby hotel for 3 days, which was great. I was driving before they told me I could. But my abs are still tight and a lot weaker than before.

I just finished my 12th post HIPEC chemo round and will go for scans at Duke and a check up in two weeks. My scans in Feb. were clean and CEA today was 0.87.

Do you go to a major cancer center, either for treatment or consultations?

Catherine

charelaine said:

Vanderbilt
I go to Vanderbilt, and it is a good place, but nobody has mentioned this to me. I did just start chemo again. My oncologist said I am not a candidate for surgery at this time, but I really don't get why. I know she said if I respond to chemo we will reopen the subject at a later date.

I just want to be aware of all the options out there.

How much chemo do you have to have, or do you know? I was told I would be doing chemo indefinitely.

Well, I thought I was going
Well, I thought I was going to do 12 rounds but my local doc told me today he would prefer 16 rounds but I still need to see what Duke says.

Hang in there with Folfiri. It has been much easier for me than Folfox but not exactly something I go skipping to every other week. Your body is probably just adjusting and will take it better after that.

Catherine

Crow71 said:

Hey Charlotte -Sorry to hear
Hey Charlotte -Sorry to hear the you're having a hard time with FOLFOX. Let's hope the cancer is having a harder time. FOLFOX completely obliterated my rectal tumor and shrunk all of my liver mets. It didn't do much for my peritoneal mets.

I'm having cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC at Wake Forest on Wednesday (as well as a liver resection and primary rectal tumor (site) resection.) My surgeon, Dr. Shen and his partner, Dr. Levine have had good success with this surgery. Check out the link below and keep asking questions.

http://www2.wfubmc.edu:80/gs/patient/iphc/

Sending you many sparks of hope and healing.

Roger

My husband and I are considering HIPEC, getting a 2nd opinion...
tomorrow at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, PA. He was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer two weeks ago with peritoneal mets and several lymph nodes. The main tumor as well as the affected lymph nodes were removed during surgery but the peritoneal mets are sprinkled on the surface of his abdomen. Would love to hear more about your experience with HIPEC since the doctors are leaning towards letting him start chemo meds first and following up with HIPEC. Could you call me at 215-385-1544? Also my email is dpjwrites@yahoo.com. If it's not too much trouble.

Thanks,

Debbie

DebPJ said:

My husband and I are considering HIPEC, getting a 2nd opinion...
tomorrow at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, PA. He was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer two weeks ago with peritoneal mets and several lymph nodes. The main tumor as well as the affected lymph nodes were removed during surgery but the peritoneal mets are sprinkled on the surface of his abdomen. Would love to hear more about your experience with HIPEC since the doctors are leaning towards letting him start chemo meds first and following up with HIPEC. Could you call me at 215-385-1544? Also my email is dpjwrites@yahoo.com. If it's not too much trouble.

Thanks,

Debbie

Go to a hospital that specializes in HIPEC
That's going to be the key for you! It can be a really tough procedure and recover can be a bit#$, I definitely recommend you go somewhere that specializes in this procedure. Wake Forest does, and there are a few others. Make sure the surgeon doing it has LOTS of practice at it, as well as the staff in recovery.
mary