Prof. Dr. Can Keçe, Gastroenterology Surgery and Surgical Oncology Specialist, Medical Park Yıldızlı Hospital stated that hot chemotherapy is applied during surgery in colon, stomach, ovarian, peritoneal and appendix cancers. Dr. Can Keçe said, “We aim to eliminate tumors that are too small to be seen with the naked eye with the hot chemotherapy method, which requires experienced team work.”
Stating that cancer, which is a difficult disease to fight, can leave patients in a more difficult situation if it is not diagnosed early, Prof. Dr. Can Keçe, Gastroenterology Surgery and Surgical Oncology Specialist, Medical Park Yıldızlı Hospital gave information about the hot chemotherapy method, also known as HIPEC.
It is applied during surgery for intra-abdominal cancers.
Underlining that the ‘hot chemotherapy’ procedure recommended for advanced stage cancer patients is slightly different from normal chemotherapy, Prof. Dr. Can Keçe said, “Hot chemotherapy applied during surgery; It is applied in cancers of the colon, stomach, ovary, peritoneum and appendix. When applying hot chemotherapy, medication is given for a period of 45 minutes to 2 hours, as appropriate for the patient. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a form of chemotherapy administered intravenously like normal chemotherapy.”
Requires experienced teamwork
Recording that cytoreductive surgery and hot chemotherapy are among the most effective treatment methods that suitable patients can receive all over the world for intra-abdominal cancer, Prof. Dr. Can Keçe said, “The hot chemotherapy (HIPEC) method, which has started to be applied by our experienced physicians in our country, requires experienced team work. We aim to eliminate tumors that are too small to be seen with the naked eye with hot chemotherapy.”
Increases the effects of chemotherapy drugs
Indicating that hot chemotherapy is applied in the operating room after the surgical procedure, while the patient is asleep under general anesthesia, Prof. Dr. Keçe said, “Depending on the type of cancer present, chemotherapy agents are heated to an average of 42 degrees. Thus, the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs are increased. Then, with the help of a device with a pump feature, the medicines are circulated repeatedly inside the abdomen and the inside of the abdomen is washed. During this procedure, the patient’s body temperature is constantly checked with temperature probes placed in the abdomen.”
Prof. Dr. Keçe concluded, “In some advanced-stage cancers, the effect of intravenous chemotherapy drugs is low. The majority of these patients are told that there is nothing that can be done. But this is not true. Successful results can be achieved by increasing the effect of chemotherapy in some suitable tumors and cases with hot chemotherapy, and survival times can be extended.”
