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HIPEC stands for Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. In simple words, it means giving heated chemotherapy directly inside the abdomen (tummy area), right after surgery to remove visible tumors. Think of it as a “warm wash” of the abdominal cavity — the chemotherapy liquid is heated to about 41–43°C and circulated inside the belly for around 90 minutes. This heat helps the medicine reach and destroy tiny cancer cells that surgery alone cannot remove.

HITOC stands for Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy. It works on the same principle as HIPEC, but instead of the abdomen, the heated chemotherapy is circulated inside the chest cavity. It is mainly used for cancers affecting the lining of the lungs and chest, such as pleural mesothelioma.

Heat makes cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy, so the drug is absorbed better into any remaining cancer cells. This means doctors can use a much stronger dose of chemotherapy directly at the affected site, while keeping the rest of the body largely unaffected.

First, the surgeon performs Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) — removing all visible tumors from the abdomen or chest. Right after this, the heated chemotherapy solution is circulated through the cavity using a dedicated machine, for about 60–90 minutes, with temperature carefully monitored and controlled throughout. Once the treatment time is over, the fluid is completely drained out, and the surgery is completed.

These treatments are generally recommended for cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdomen or chest, including:

• Peritoneal mesothelioma, pseudomyxoma peritonei, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian carcinoma & appendiceal cancer
• Pleural mesothelioma, pleural metastases of thymic carcinoma

Your surgeon or oncologist will confirm if you are a suitable candidate based on your specific diagnosis and overall health.

No. Regular (intravenous) chemotherapy travels through your entire bloodstream, affecting your whole body — which is why it often causes side effects like hair loss, extreme fatigue or nausea. HIPEC/HITOC delivers a much stronger dose directly to the area affected by cancer while limiting how much of the drug reaches the rest of the body, often meaning fewer whole-body side effects.

• Allows a much higher dose of chemotherapy at the tumor site than would be safe through the bloodstream
• Reaches microscopic cancer cells left behind after surgery
• Reduces side effects compared to standard IV chemotherapy
• Usually done as a single treatment session during surgery
• Can improve long-term survival and quality of life for eligible patients

As with any major surgery, there can be some risks, including fatigue and weakness, nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite, temporary changes in bowel movement, low blood cell counts, risk of infection or fluid leakage, blood clots, and mood changes or sleep difficulty during recovery. Your medical team will monitor you closely and take precautions to reduce these risks.

Hospital stay is usually 4 to 14 days, depending on how extensive the surgery was. You may be fed through a tube or IV during the first few days of recovery. Antibiotics and pain relief medication are given to keep you comfortable. A follow-up visit with your oncologist is scheduled 4 to 12 weeks after the procedure, and full recovery can take up to 3 months.

Your oncologist will monitor your progress at follow-up visits and decide if any additional chemotherapy sessions are needed, based on how you respond to treatment.

Modern HIPEC/HITOC systems continuously track the temperature of the fluid throughout the procedure, several times every minute, to make sure it stays within the safe and effective range. This data is also recorded for your medical records.

Yes. HIPEC and HITOC procedures are performed at many dedicated cancer hospitals, government teaching institutes, and private hospitals across India, using advanced, India-made equipment that also meets international quality standards.

HIPEC and HITOC are specialized procedures, usually performed by surgeons with specific expertise depending on where the cancer is located:

• GI (Gastrointestinal) Onco-Surgeons — stomach, upper abdomen, and peritoneal region
• Colorectal Surgeons — small and large intestine, colon, and rectum
• Gynecologic Onco-Surgeons — ovarian and pelvic cancers spreading to the abdominal lining
• Thoracic Onco-Surgeons — pleural mesothelioma and other chest-related cancers, for HITOC procedures

Many hospitals bring together a team of these specialists, along with medical oncologists and critical care experts, to plan and carry out your treatment safely.

• Am I a good candidate for HIPEC/HITOC based on my cancer type and stage?
• What are the expected benefits and risks in my specific case?
• How long will my hospital stay and recovery likely be?
• Will I need further treatment after this procedure?
• What lifestyle changes can support my recovery?

PIPAC stands for Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy. In simple words, it is a minimally invasive way of delivering chemotherapy as a fine mist (aerosol/spray) directly inside the abdominal cavity, using keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. Instead of a liquid wash like HIPEC, PIPAC turns the chemotherapy drug into tiny pressurized droplets sprayed evenly across the abdominal lining, allowing better contact with cancer cells.

You are given general anesthesia, just like any keyhole surgery. The surgeon makes two or three small cuts (each about the width of a finger) in the abdomen and inserts special ports. The abdominal cavity is gently filled with carbon dioxide gas to create working space, and a camera is inserted to examine the extent of disease. A dedicated device is connected, which converts the chemotherapy drug into a fine pressurized mist and sprays it evenly across the abdominal lining. The mist is left in place for about 30 minutes, then the gas and chemotherapy vapors are safely removed through a closed, filtered system before the ports are taken out. The entire procedure usually takes around 45–90 minutes.

PIPAC is generally considered for patients with cancer that has spread to the peritoneum (abdominal lining), especially when:

• The disease is too widespread for complete surgical removal
• The patient needs a way to control symptoms like abdominal fluid buildup (ascites)
• Standard chemotherapy through the bloodstream isn't reaching the abdominal lining effectively
• The cancer originates from the stomach, ovaries, colon/rectum, appendix, or peritoneum itself

Your surgeon or oncologist will confirm if you are a suitable candidate based on your specific diagnosis and overall health.

No. PIPAC is usually given as a series of repeated sessions, typically spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, so doctors can monitor your response and adjust the plan over time.

No. One of the main advantages of PIPAC is that it is done laparoscopically, using only a few small incisions — generally meaning less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery compared to major open surgery.

• Delivers chemotherapy directly to the cancer site, with better tissue penetration than a liquid solution
• Minimally invasive, so recovery is generally quicker than after major open surgery
• Can be repeated over several sessions to track how the disease responds
• May help control symptoms such as abdominal fluid buildup and improve quality of life
• Can sometimes be combined with regular chemotherapy for better overall disease control

As with any surgical procedure, there can be some risks, including abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea or vomiting, minor bleeding or infection at the incision sites, a rare risk of bowel injury or other surgical complications, and general anesthesia-related risks.

Because PIPAC is minimally invasive, hospital stays are often shorter than with major surgery — frequently just 1 to 3 days — though this can vary depending on your overall health and any complications. Full recovery between sessions is usually quicker than after open surgery.

• GI (Gastrointestinal) Onco-Surgeons — for stomach and peritoneal disease
• Colorectal Surgeons — for colon and rectal cancers spread to the peritoneum
• Gynecologic Onco-Surgeons — for ovarian and related pelvic cancers
• Surgical Oncologists trained in laparoscopic (keyhole) techniques
• Medical Oncologists — who help plan chemotherapy drugs and monitor overall treatment

• Is PIPAC a suitable option for my specific type and stage of cancer?
• How many sessions am I likely to need, and how will my response be monitored?
• What are the expected benefits and risks in my case?
• How should I prepare, and what will recovery look like after each session?
• Will I continue any other chemotherapy alongside PIPAC?