Istanbul Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (HIPEC)
Hyperthermic chemotherapy Istanbul, namely HIPEC, is an advanced chemotherapy method used in the treatment of various gastrointestinal cancers and gynecological cancers. During oncological surgical procedures, it is usually possible to remove only visible tumors with surgical procedures. Many cancer cells that are quite difficult to observe and intervene may continue to exist in the relevant area after surgical operation. This can result in the related cancer disease not being completely treated or recurring. Of course, chemotherapy applications performed after cancer surgeries can prevent the mentioned risks. However, systemic chemotherapy treatment will not be as effective as treatments targeting only the relevant area.
In this case, highly successful applications such as hyperthermic chemotherapy are used. Thanks to hyperthermic chemotherapy, it is possible to apply heated chemotherapy drugs directly to cancerous areas and effectively destroy cancer cells. In the continuation of our article, we will answer frequently asked questions such as “How is hyperthermic chemotherapy performed?”, “How long does hyperthermic chemotherapy take?”, “Who cannot have hyperthermic chemotherapy?” and “What should be considered after hyperthermic chemotherapy?”. You can examine the rest of our article to get detailed information about Istanbul hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC) treatment.
What is Hyperthermic Chemotherapy?
Hyperthermic chemotherapy is a targeted and advanced cancer treatment performed to effectively destroy cancer cells in the target area during the removal of cancerous tumors. Hyperthermic chemotherapy treatment is a two-stage application. In the first of these stages, visible tumors in the target area are surgically removed. In the second stage, specially heated chemotherapy drugs are applied to the area to destroy cancer cells that are not visible to the naked eye. The abdomen is washed with these drugs and cancer cells are successfully destroyed.
What is HIPEC?
HIPEC, namely hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, is much more targeted than systemic chemotherapy applications and is successfully used in the treatment of many cancer diseases. This application is known among the public as hyperthermic chemotherapy. It is widely used in the treatment of peritoneal cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Why is Hyperthermic Chemotherapy Performed?
Hyperthermic chemotherapy is performed to effectively destroy cancer cells that cannot be removed by tumor surgery and are difficult to see and directly intervene. This treatment, which is performed in addition to tumor surgery and involves washing the abdomen using heated chemotherapy drugs, is one of the most effective among modern and targeted cancer treatments.
Who is Recommended for Hyperthermic Chemotherapy?
Hyperthermic chemotherapy is recommended for individuals who have cancer disease limited to the abdomen and meet the necessary conditions for treatment. One of the most important criteria for hyperthermic chemotherapy is that the cancer disease is limited to the abdomen and the cancer has not metastasized to different organs. Otherwise, classic, systemic chemotherapy treatments may be preferred instead of hyperthermic chemotherapy.
What are the Advantages of Hyperthermic Chemotherapy?
The advantages of hyperthermic chemotherapy include:
- It has fewer side effects compared to systemic chemotherapy drugs.
- Heated chemotherapy drugs interact much more successfully with cancer cells in the target area and destroy these cells.
- It is effective in preventing cancer cells from spreading to different organs.
- It can effectively destroy cancer cells that are not visible to the naked eye and are not intervened surgically.
The advantages of hyperthermic chemotherapy can be listed in this way.
Hyperthermic Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer
Colon cancer, especially in cases of intra-abdominal spread, seriously threatens the patient’s survival rate and quality of life. However, an ideally planned hyperthermic chemotherapy and oncological surgical procedure can increase the 5-year survival rate up to 40%.
Hyperthermic Chemotherapy in Stomach Cancer
Hyperthermic chemotherapy in stomach cancer can extend the patient’s life span if the stage and progression of the cancer are suitable for treatment.
Hyperthermic Chemotherapy in Peritoneal Cancer
Peritoneal cancer is a quite aggressive cancer disease. In individuals with this disease, the patient’s life span and quality of life can be significantly increased thanks to a successful hyperthermic chemotherapy application.
How Long Does Hyperthermic Chemotherapy Take?
Hyperthermic chemotherapy is usually a procedure that takes about 1-2 hours. However, this procedure is not performed alone, but together with surgical operations performed to remove tumors. Therefore, when the duration of the related operation is also taken into consideration, the total duration of the application can take about 5 to 8 hours.
How is Hyperthermic Chemotherapy Performed?
Hyperthermic chemotherapy treatment is performed within a two-stage application. In the first of these stages, visible tumors in the target area are removed from the area by surgical methods thanks to special planning. Then, in the second stage, hyperthermic chemotherapy treatment is initiated.
In hyperthermic chemotherapy treatment, first four catheters are placed in the abdominal area. These catheters enable the circulation of heated chemotherapy drugs within the abdominal cavity with the HIPEC device. Thus, chemotherapy drugs heated to 41-43 degrees are applied to the abdomen for 1-2 hours and cancer cells are effectively destroyed.
What Should be Considered After Hyperthermic Chemotherapy?
After hyperthermic chemotherapy, patients are hospitalized for 3 to 5 days and then discharged. Discharged patients should not neglect their doctor controls and treatment processes. At the same time, they should specifically avoid heavy and tiring work for a while and pay attention to the hygiene of the surgical areas.
Istanbul hyperthermic chemotherapy prices may vary according to the details of the treatment and different applications accompanying the treatment.
