When cancer in the peritoneum becomes a burden
The Peritoneal carcinomatosis (peritoneal metastases) is often less „just a finding“ for those affected - but a daily routine full of complaints: Abdominal girth, pressure, pain, nausea, loss of appetite, shortness of breath due to ascites, exhaustion, sometimes bowel obstruction. This is exactly where palliative medicine comes in: Alleviate suffering, stabilize quality of life, make time as „good“ as possible.
In recent years, one procedure has been discussed more intensively: CRS-HIPEC.
What is CRS-HIPEC - brief and easy to understand
- CRS (cytoreductive surgery): Visible parts of the tumor in the abdomen are removed as far as possible.
- HIPEC: Directly afterwards a Heated chemotherapy circulates in the abdominal cavity for a certain period of time in order to better reach microscopic tumor remnants.
Important: This is Not a minor procedure, but a major treatment that is only suitable for selected patients.
What does the current review say?
A scoping review published in 2025 analyzed 54 studies and shed light on CRS-HIPEC especially in a palliative-oriented contextSo not just „living longer“, but „how are people really doing with it?“. Palliative_cytoreductive_surger...
1) Symptom relief - especially for ascites
The paper reports that malignant ascites (abdominal fluid) after CRS-HIPEC in studies up to 100% could be controlled or eliminated; also overall Symptom improvements in a large area (approx. 26.5-100%) - partly with permanent control. Palliative_cytoreductive_surger...
2) Survival - varies greatly depending on tumor type and selection
Depending on the tumor of origin and patient selection, median survival times after CRS-HIPEC in the included data were roughly in the range of several months to several years; in the review, ranges of 6.6 to 50 months (depending on the collective) - often higher than with systemic therapy alone. Palliative_cytoreductive_surger...
3) The price: relevant risks
The authors also emphasize the downside: Morbidity (complications) was high in some cases in the analyzed data (approx. 15.1-56%), which Mortality depending on the setting with 0-12% indicated. Palliative_cytoreductive_surger...
4) Quality of life: often worse in the short term, later partly better again
After major surgery, it is plausible that things initially go downhill. The review describes that the quality of life often in the first few months can drop after CRS-HIPEC and up to about 12 months stabilized again - however, according to the authors, many studies lack Standardized, long-term QoL data. Palliative_cytoreductive_surger...
What does this mean for those affected and their relatives?
CRS-HIPEC can Palliative sensible be - especially if Ascites and mechanical complaints dominate - but It is not a standard solution. The decisive factors are
- Good patient selection (performance status, tumor burden, surgical target),
- a experienced center,
- clear goals: What should be improved? What is an acceptable risk?
My tip for conversations in the center:
- „What is the main palliative goal for me (ascites, pain, bowel function...)?“
- „How high do you estimate the benefit vs. risk in my specific case?“
- „What kind of support is provided in the first 3 months afterwards (pain, nutrition, psycho-oncology, palliative care team)?“
And where does frequency therapy fit into this picture?
When we talk about cancer, about major surgery, about chemotherapy, about ascites - it's not just about tumor cells. It's also about RegulationSleep, stress, pain processing, autonomic nervous system, inner restlessness, exhaustion.
Here you can Frequency therapy in the sense of a accompanying, complementary support not as a „substitute“ for oncological therapy, but as a additional resource, to better stabilize the body during stressful phases.
Possible, meaningful goals in the accompaniment
- Relaxation & sleep quality support (down-regulation)
- Stress response Reduce tension (tension, „inner vibration“, circling thoughts)
- Well-being and subjective Pain processing accompany positively
- Recreation Encourage after stressful therapy steps (as a ritual/structure)
Practical: this is how many of those affected think „functionally“
- Short, regular units instead of „too much at once“
- Focus on Perception: What becomes lighter? What becomes calmer?
- always basics in parallel: Fluid/electrolytes, nutrition, exercise in the frame, breathing & relaxation
If someone is considering or has just undergone CRS-HIPEC, „complementary“ is usually strongest when it is not additionally overburdened, but relieved.
Important note (please take this seriously)
Frequency therapy is not recognized by conventional medicine and cannot replace therapy by trained doctors or alternative practitioners. In cancer - especially in complex situations such as peritoneal carcinomatosis - frequency therapy should be exclusively accompanying and in coordination with the treatment team.
Conclusion
CRS-HIPEC can be used for peritoneal carcinomatosis Significantly improve palliative symptoms, especially with Abdominal fluid, and in selected cases also Extend survival - with simultaneous relevant risks, which require very careful selection. Palliative_cytoreductive_surger...
Frequency therapy can be used in this setting as Complementary support help you to cope better with everyday stress - with realistic goals: Stabilization, relaxation, well-being.
Author
NLS Informationsmedizin GmbH - Herbert Eder
