Mercy Gynecologic Oncologist, Dr. Teresa Diaz-Montes Discusses HIPEC Treatment for Ovarian Cancer
November 30, 2020
Heated chemotherapy is a treatment that can help ovarian cancer patients live longer.
It's administered during surgery. After a surgeon removes cancerous tumors, tubes and temporary probes are placed in the abdominal cavity. The doctor briefly closes the skin with sutures and then the area is then flooded with a chemo solution that is heated.
Together, the heat and solution kill microscopic cancer cells. The procedure is called hyperthermic (heated) intraperitoneal chemotherapy or HIPEC for short.
According to Teresa P. Diaz-Montes, M.D., MPH, FACOG, Associate Director, The Lya Segall Ovarian Cancer Institute at Mercy, HIPEC has been used to treat appendiceal cancer for a long time.
“Now, for ovarian cancer, it seems to be increasing the overall survival of patients who are treated with this modality,” she said.
Dr. Diaz-Montes says anyone considering HIPEC should make sure they choose a doctor and a team with a lot of experience.
To view Dr. Teresa Diaz-Montes’ interview regarding HIPEC for ovarian cancer, click here.
About Mercy
Founded in 1874 in Downtown Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a 183-licensed bed, acute care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized as a high-performing Maryland hospital (U.S. News & World Report); has achieved an overall 5-Star quality, safety, and patient experience rating (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services); is A-rated for Hospital Safety (Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade); and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet™ hospital. Mercy Health Services is a not-for-profit health system and the parent company of Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Personal Physicians.
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