July 17th, 2012
Due to the aggressive nature of mesothelioma, many patients would do anything for a chance at long-term survival. Mesothelioma is notoriously resistant to traditional cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy. That has many doctors and patients exploring a controversial approach to peritoneal mesothelioma cancer treatment – hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or HIPEC.
What is Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy?
HIPEC has been described by many as a hot chemotherapy bath, in which oncologists open the body, remove all of the visible cancer using cytoreductive surgery, and then flood the open cavity and organs with hot chemotherapy drugs. Critics of the procedure, however, believe that further study is necessary before doctors and hospitals make HIPEC a standardized cancer treatment procedure.
A 2009 multi-institutional study of more than 400 patients in Australia found that when used to treat malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, HIPEC combined with cytoreductive surgery was effective in prolonging patient survival to an average of 53 months. The expected prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma patients who do not undergo HIPEC treatment is approximately 5 to 13 months.
HIPEC procedures can cost as much as $100,000 and can take as much as a half day. In a previous Dutch study, eight percent of patients who underwent HIPEC died as a result of the treatment. Furthermore, recovery is long and intensive, requiring patients to remain hospitalized for weeks on end. Still, the mere possibility of long-term survival is enough for many cancer patients to explore the treatment, despite the risks.
About Periotoneal Mesothelioma
Periotoneal mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the mesothelium lining of the abdominal cavity. Although the condition can develop as the sole source of mesothelioma cancer, it is often an extension of pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma itself is a rare, but aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Cases of mesothelioma have been on the rise for many years, because asbestos was a primary component of construction and manufacturing for many decades during the twentieth century.
In most cases of mesothelioma, asbestos exposure occurs many years prior to initial diagnosis. Once inhaled or ingested, fine asbestos fibers embed into the body, where they lie dormant for as long as 50 years. Many mesothelioma victims were either unknowingly exposed to asbestos or improperly warned of its harmful side effects by manufacturers or employers who continued to use asbestos despite knowing of its potential health dangers.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of pleural or periotoneal mesothelioma, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your emotional, physical and financial suffering. Contact a qualified mesothelioma attorney today for a consultation.
