Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC), that has never been used before in Sweden, has been introduced at Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge. The treatment method should improve the quality of life for patients with advanced gastric cancer, but also reduce the risk of metastases in patients at an earlier stage of the disease.
The method has so far been used for three patients who received their treatment in connection with surgery for gastric cancer. In two of the cases, the treatment was given to reduce the number of metastases in the peritoneum and thus the large amount of fluid that can accumulate in the abdomen in such conditions. This is a proven method that can reduce pain and other ailments that these patients may have.
In a new study, PIPAC will also be used to try to prevent peritoneal metastases for patients with advanced gastric cancer who have not yet spread. Gastric cancer is often discovered late and has then unfortunately many times had time to spread to other organs. The most common is that it spreads to the peritoneum, says Ioannis Rouvelas, surgeon, who is leading the work of introducing the method at Karolinska University Hospital.
Stomach cancer affects about 600 patients per year in Sweden. Approximately 10-12 Swedish patients will be included in the study with PIPAC. About 20 patients will receive PIPAC as palliative care in the next year.
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