One of the keys to achieving a long survival with mesothelioma is getting treatment from a top cancer center. These medical institutions have mesothelioma specialists, offer multimodal treatment plans, and have a wide range of other resources from clinical trials to expert medical staff.
A recent study confirms that long-term survival is possible for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma if they go to a high-ranking, high-volume center.
Specialists at Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center reported on the long-term survival outcomes for patients after they received cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. This treatment approach combines surgery with hot chemotherapy (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or HIPEC) to eliminate peritoneal mesothelioma tumors in the abdominal cavity.
The results show why patients should seek medical care from specialists at a high-ranking facility such as Wake Forest.
More About Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the thin lining around the abdominal cavity. This lining, called the peritoneum, is made of fluid in between two layers of tissue. Loose asbestos fibers can enter this lining and irritate the tissue layers, which causes cells to mutate and a tumor to form.
Cytoreductive surgery is a “debulking” procedure, meaning surgeons aim to remove all visible cancerous tissue from the abdominal cavity. They also may remove specific organs and tissues in the area, such as the spleen, the peritoneum, and a layer of fatty tissue in the abdominal cavity called the omentum. Removal of these parts depends on the surgeon’s methodology, the patient’s health and the size of the cancer.
HIPEC uses hot, liquid chemotherapy to kill any remaining peritoneal mesothelioma tumors hiding in the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma does not grow and spread as one main tumor, but rather spreads as many small tumors, similar to goosebumps on your arm. So even after surgery, it’s likely for tumors to remain scattered throughout the abdominal cavity.
Remarkable Survival for Peritoneal Mesothelioma at Wake Forest Baptist
From 1993-2011, there were 111 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma treated at Wake Forest with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. The average age was 55 years old, and 58% of the patients were male. Of the 111, just 17 patients had a second cytoreductive/HIPEC surgery.
The median overall survival for all 111 patients was 3.3 years. Some patients have lived as long as 10 years. If patients reached the 1-year survival milestone, their chances of a longer survival improved. Many of these patients lived for at least five years, and each year of survival improved their likelihood of living for a decade or more.
Top Cancer Centers for Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment
Wake Forest Baptist is just one of many top cancer centers for peritoneal mesothelioma treatment. These centers have specialists who can perform cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, and they work with oncologists and nurses who can provide other treatment options, quality-of-life care, and other support resources.
Some of the other top hospitals for peritoneal mesothelioma are:
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Baylor St. Luke’s Hospital
- University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
- University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center
- MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Mesothelioma Guide’s goal is to put patients in touch with specialists in the hopes of helping them beat this cancer. Part of this goal is providing patients with a patient advocate who will help you find the right cancer center at no cost. Email Karen Ritter today at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com for direct communication.
Sources & Author
- Long-Term Survival in Patients Treated with Cytoreduction and Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma at a Single High-Volume Center. Annals of Surgical Oncology. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36754945/. Accessed: 06/22/2023.
Sources & Author
