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What Happens to Quality of Life After HIPEC Surgery for Colorectal Cancer?

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Quality of Life and Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal DOI 10.1245s10434-025-18147-2

Colorectal cancer can sometimes spread inside the belly. In those cases, doctors may use a special treatment called HIPEC—short for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. It’s a heated chemo wash done right after cancer-removal surgery (CRS). But what does this mean for how patients feel afterward?

A new study looked at how quality of life (QoL) changes after CRS with or without HIPEC. The study followed patients before surgery and again 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. It used trusted questionnaires to measure how people felt physically and emotionally.

At first, both groups felt worse after surgery, which is normal. But by 3 months, most people started feeling better—especially those who had CRS plus HIPEC.

The study focused on something called “minimal clinically important difference” or MCID. This is the smallest change in how you feel that actually matters to your life. Patients who got HIPEC had larger improvements in QoL scores over time. That means the gains were not just small or technical—they were meaningful.

Some people were more likely to feel worse after surgery, especially if they had:

⦿ Advanced cancer
⦿ Poorer health before surgery

⦿ Higher body weight
⦿ Open surgery instead of keyhole surgery

These results help doctors and patients have better conversations before treatment. Knowing what to expect—and who might need more support—can lead to better planning and care.

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Dr Harsh Shah - GI & HPB Oncosurgeon in Ahmeadbad
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