News

After a routine hysterectomy unknowingly spread an aggressive cancer throughout her abdomen, this registered nurse was told she had just three months to live. Refusing to give up, she advocated for herself, sought new specialists, and underwent multiple lifesaving procedures. More than 13 years later, she is still working as a nurse and sharing a simple message: never lose hope.

A new study found that many ovarian cancer survivors experience challenges with sexual well-being after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC treatment. Common concerns included vaginal dryness, pain during sex, reduced desire, and body image changes. Despite these issues, only one-third of patients received sexual health support. Women who received support reported higher sexual satisfaction, highlighting the need for more open conversations and survivorship resources addres

The CHARLIE-2 trial is the first randomized study to directly compare HIPEC and PIPAC, two methods of delivering chemotherapy directly into the abdomen for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Researchers will evaluate safety, quality of life, treatment response, and cost to determine which approach may provide the greatest benefit for patients who are not candidates for complete tumor-removal surgery.

Genetic mutations may determine which ovarian cancer patients do better following HIPEC

This study suggests that the biology of a colorectal cancer tumor may influence how well it responds to different HIPEC chemotherapy drugs. Researchers found that the CMS4 subtype appeared particularly sensitive to mitomycin C and irinotecan, raising the possibility that future HIPEC treatments could be tailored to a patient's specific tumor characteristics.

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.