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Pancreatic cancer that has spread to the lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum) is often difficult to treat and is associated with poor outcomes. Standard treatment typically involves chemotherapy, but survival rates remain low. Researchers conducted a systematic review to examine whether a treatment approach called cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may improve outcomes for some patients with pancreatic cance

Researchers found that blue LED light reduced the growth and spread of gastric cancer peritoneal metastases in a mouse model, highlighting a potential new treatment approach that warrants further study.

Guide to treatment for uterine and endometrial cancers

Short term fasting may improve chemotherapy treatment for Ovarian Cancer

Peritoneal metastases occur when cancer spreads to the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum). This can happen with cancers such as colorectal, appendiceal, gastric (stomach), ovarian cancers, and peritoneal mesothelioma. Historically, patients with peritoneal metastases had very limited treatment options and poor survival. Researchers reviewed published studies to better understand how a treatment called cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC affected survival.

June is Uterine and Endometrial Cancers Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness, share knowledge, and support the thousands of individuals and families affected by these gynecologic cancers each year.

In the fight against advanced abdominal cancers, we stand behind a powerful treatment that is changing outcomes and saving lives: CRS/HIPEC (Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy). This life-extending procedure offers renewed hope for patients with complex peritoneal surface malignancies. And yet far too many never hear about it in time. The Abdominal Cancers Alliance is here to support patients in their fight.

Switching Chemotherapy Drugs During Repeat CRS-HIPEC Surgery

A cancer diagnosis impacts far more than physical health. For many patients and caregivers, the financial burden of treatment can quickly become overwhelming. Between medical bills, travel expenses, time away from work, lodging, prescriptions, childcare, and everyday household costs, financial stress often becomes an added challenge during an already difficult time. That’s why the Abdominal Cancers Alliance is proud to introduce our new Financial Assistance Resource — a resou

By Tim Morgan New Hampshire What started as a suspected case of appendicitis on Halloween 2024 quickly spiraled into a confusing medical ordeal. When I went for surgery to have my appendix removed, there was a note in MyChart about a "possible malignancy" and removal of the right side of my colon which left me thunderstruck even though the surgeon indicated that it was probably nothing. A week later, I received the words that every patient dreads - "You have cancer." The Se

I have always been a pragmatist, a teacher of English Literature who looked for logic in the narrative arc of a story. But nothing in the great works of fiction could have prepared me for the moment the story became my own—or more accurately, my son’s. My son, “Hunter”, is 43, a gifted cinematographer living in Tulsa. He sees the world through a lens of light and shadow, but in 2023, a shadow fell over us that no camera could filter out. It began with standard abdominal pain

A new study published in Nature Communications found that ascites—the fluid buildup common in advanced ovarian cancer—may help cancer cells survive and spread throughout the abdomen. Researchers also identified a potential way to disrupt this process using a decades-old cholesterol-lowering medication, highlighting a promising avenue for future treatment research.

Researchers found that common blood tests known as tumor markers may help predict how patients respond to treatment and whether their cancer is more likely to return after surgery. The findings reinforce an important message for patients and caregivers: follow-up care is a critical part of cancer treatment and survivorship.

Study examines impact of HIPEC on quality of life for ovarian cancer patients

Pancreatic cancer that has spread to the abdominal lining is typically treated with palliative chemotherapy, and outcomes remain poor. A new study examined whether a more aggressive strategy—surgery to remove visible tumors followed by heated chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdomen (HIPEC)—could improve survival in carefully selected patients. The findings offer insight into a potential new approach for managing advanced disease.

In a room filled with warmth, courage, and an unmistakable sense of community, we gathered for our very first Living Proof event. Connected by our shared experiences with abdominal cancers, it was a celebration of shared challenges, resilience, and the power of human connection through storytelling and song. It was an experience that left us energized, inspired, and deeply moved.

Darling A, Harlev C, O’Cearbhaill R . Use of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer: A multidisciplinary review. Surgical Oncology Insight, 2026; 3 What is this study about? This article looks at a treatment called HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy). HIPEC is given during surgery for cancers that have spread inside the abdomen (like ovarian cancer). Doctors circulate warm chemotherapy directly in the belly to kill cancer

What is this interview about? This interview with Dr. Kiran Turaga explains a new approach to treating abdominal cancers called personalized chemotherapy. Instead of giving every patient the same treatment, doctors are working to match chemotherapy to each person’s specific tumor—so it works better and causes fewer side effects. Dr. Kiran Turaga Why is this important? Abdominal cancers (like colorectal, appendix, or ovarian cancers that spread in the abdomen) can be difficult

Falla-Zuniga LF, Sardi A, King MC, Lopez-Ramirez F, Kovalik V, Iugai S, Diaz-Montes T, Gushchin V. Small bowel obstruction and ovarian cancer: insights from a propensity-score matched study in patients with and without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreductive surgery. World J Surg Oncol. 2025 Aug 26;23(1):318. doi: 10.1186/s12957-025-03968-y. PMID: 40859247; PMCID: PMC12382003. What was this study about? People with advanced ovarian cancer sometimes devel

Ha, E., Suzuki, Y., Sarkaria, I.S. et al. Outcome Analysis of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemoperfusion (HITHOC) for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei with Pleural Metastasis. Ann Surg Oncol 33, 3084–3090 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-025-18880-8 What is this study about? This study looked at a rare but challenging situation: when a condition called pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP)—a cancer that usually starts in the abdomen—spreads to the chest (pleura).