Colorectal cancer treatment options: Why HIPEC treatment may help.

By ShareMD Connect

If you or a loved one have recently been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, without question, discovering treatment options will be a top priority. One treatment, with promising results, is called Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy or HIPEC treatment.

Because some treatment options can sometimes seem overwhelming we've provided a simplified description of HIPEC to help you better understand what this treatment type entails:

What Is HIPEC Treatment?

HIPEC has actually been around for decades as a cancer treatment but has made significant and promising progress in recent years.

This treatment is primarily used for cancers that penetrate the abdominal cavity's lining. So, if you have been diagnosed with primary colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, appendiceal cancer, peritoneal carcinomatosis, or mesothelioma, HIPEC could be an option.

How HIPEC Works

The first step is generally to remove any visible tumors in the peritoneal cavity. This is called cytoreductive surgery. Following this operation, the surgeon will administer the HIPEC treatment, a powerful dose of heated chemotherapy into the patient's abdomen.

This procedure is designed to kill the remaining cancerous cells within the peritoneum. While traditional chemotherapy is administered orally or by IV drip and affects the entire body, this treatment is targeted specifically toward the affected areas. Because of this, patients receiving HIPEC can avoid many unpleasant symptoms associated with traditional chemotherapy.

Why Is The HIPEC Solution Heated? 

Research tells us that cancer cells are more vulnerable to heat than the body’s normal cells. Julian Schink, Chief Medical Officer for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), says that higher temperatures destroy more tumor cells, intensifying the concentration of chemotherapy by ten to 100 times. As such, it is often used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells that may have been left behind.

While this treatment continues to provide promising results, HIPEC is just one of many therapeutic options for a colorectal cancer diagnosis, which is why it's important to learn about all the options available to you or a loved one.

To learn more about this treatment and others, schedule a free call with a ShareMD Nurse Education Specialist or take our assessment below to see if a second opinion could be right for you.