NED for 2, years but no maintenance treatment. Mistake?

Could you please describe your HIPEC CRS experience? I have peritoneal mets from colon cancer and I will be starting a PIPAC clinical trial soon with the hope I will become eligible for CRS and HIPEC.
From what I can tell PIPAC is a decent much less invasive procedure to battle peritoneal cancer. Does anyone else have experience with these treatments?
Thanks
Tim

Hi Tim

HIPEC is called the “mother of all surgeries” for a good reason. It is massive invasive surgery - but took my 2 year (yes 2 year!) average statistical survival prospects from 14% to a 5 year prospect of 75%. A no brainer, having qualified.

I have a huge scar from my pubic bone up to inbetween my breasts. A massive cut to open me right up to have a good look and to remove any tissue and body parts that didn’t look healthy or potentially at risk plus remove all my peritoneum. Then 3 hours of hot chemo being swilled around in my abdomen.

The whole surgery and hot chemo process took 12 hours. It may be less or more depending on what needs to be cut out.

I had an epidural in the theatre before being put under for surgery.

I was in ICU for about 5 days on heavy duty pain killers and nourished by IV. The pain management team was awesome.

I was sitting up in a chair next to my bed for an hour (getting up with great difficulty and pain first time) the same day I woke up in ICU and they had me shuffling around with my IV pole the next day, under pain meds, and soon walking at least once a day thereafter!! Movement really helped the healing process.

I was on the general ward for about 5 days so about 9 days in total after surgery.

I didn’t have any surgery complications, no stoma bag needed and my surgical wound was treated by home care twice a week for about a month until it was fully healed.

I would do it again, and might need to if I get a recurrence and qualify.

I hope that helps! Don’t hesitate to ask any other questions.

Good luck.

Best regards
Isadora

I also have stage 4 colorectal cancer(appendix cancer) I have started chemo folfox and avastin dr is referring me for debulking surgery. Cancer is spreading on uterus and ovaries. What can I expect with debulking surgery?

@dnfjc Sorry to hear you’re going through this too 🌺 Mine also spread in my abdomen including to my ovaries. It’s also a plus yours like mine is limited to the abdomen area. Hence debulking surgery plus chemo etc.

It is major surgery (a radical hysterectomy, removal of your omentum and whatever else your surgeon sees that is best removed). I was kept in hospital for about a week after surgery and had to poop before being set free! I got physio in hospital straight away which was great (teaching me how best to sit up to protect my wound as well as breathing exercises with tubes and balls etc) and lots of walking the hospital floors. The more walking you can do in the safe environment of the hospital the better. Initially the physio came with me then I walked several times a day by myself.

They open you up so you’ll have a huge scar up your abdomen. I didn’t need to change the dressing (kept it clean and dry) so my GP took it off and also removed the stitches. I healed well. Pain management in hospital is great and they sent me home with pain relief too. I tried to use it as sparingly as possible but didn’t hesitate to use it when needed.

I was also told to stock up my freezer and get all my housework and chores done before surgery so I could do as little as possible after surgery. I also brought everything frequently used down from top cupboards so I didn’t need to stretch. As much as possible everything was on counter level.

I was so surprised how well I bounced back and could go back to work by catching the train and walking. Wasn’t allowed to drive for 6 weeks.

Wishing you the very best 🙏❤️‍🩹 Hopefully like me once you’ve completed your 6 months of chemo you’ll qualify for HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery.

Please keep us posted and don’t hesitate to ask any questions.

Thank you for your reply. I am at the beginning of this journey so I may have more questions. I am 74 so a bit worried about such a major surgery. But if it extends life and less chemo to other organs that would be good.

@dfnjc Totally understandable. All surgery under general anaesthetic has risks. This surgery is well worth those risks to try and remove all visible cancerous tissue and knock off other any cells with chemo. Thinking of you 🙏🌺

I so appreciate your kindness.