Treatment of Peritoneal Cancer
Peritoneal cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy and sometimes in addition radiotherapy.
Some peritoneal cancers are small and single and can be removed completely during surgery. Chemotherapy is used to kill any remaining cancer cells. Radiotherapy is useful in some cases.
Peritoneal cancer - Life Expectancy
The prognosis of most peritoneal cancers is not good. However, a new treatment has improved the life expectancy and survival of patients to some extent. This procedure is called Cytoreductive surgery followed by Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
During cytoreductive surgery, only obvious cancer areas and diseased peritoneum are removed. This is followed by Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. In this procedure, preheated anticancer drugs are injected directly into the peritoneal cavity. Thus a high concentration of the drugs is achieved at the cancer site and side effects are reduced. The raised temperature destroys cancer cells and at the same time increases the effect of the chemotherapy drugs. However, some deaths have occurred during this treatment and it is important to chose patients carefully.
Drugs such as interleukins and interferons also help to improve patient survival. Patients at very late stages need painkillers and regular removal of excess fluid accumulated in the peritoneum to make them feel more comfortable.
