Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC) with Mitomycin C after Cytoreductive Surgery for Patients with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis - a long, technical term for modern medicine in fight against cancer.

I had rare opportunity to speak with Dr. Perry Shen of Wake Forest University. As I listened, he explained how this groundbreaking treatment is extending lives of patients suffering from Peritoneal Carcinomatosis. *(Peritoneal membrane surrounds and lubricates surface of organs within abdomen; eg., colon, gallbladder, spleen, ovaries, intestines, liver, etc..) Because Advanced-stage Peritoneal carcinomatosis (cancer) and disseminated peritoneal lymphomas are often resistant to current chemotherapy treatment, medical researchers out of Wake Forest University have engaged in study and treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis since 1991.

Dr. John Spratt first began describing using interdominal heated therapy in 1980, and found that this particular method worked well in conjunction with chemotherapy. By giving chemotherapy interdominally with much higher concentrated heat, (41 degrees Celcius - or around 105 degrees Fahrenheit) through tumor-removal surgery, heated medicine showed an increase in its effectiveness; thus, decreasing tumors. (1. Cytoreductive surgery consists of removal of all gross tumors and involved organs, peritoneum, or tissue deemed technically feasible and safe for patient. Any tumors adherent or invasive to vital structures that could not be removes were cytoreduces using cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspirator.)

Overall survival rates were improved of 109 Patients (with peritoneal carcinomatosis) treated between December 1991 and November 1997. (2. Clinicopathologic factors that independently predicted improved overall survival rates.)

A one-time treatment, IHPC lasts approximately 1-2 hours, but standardly, a 2-hour treatment is utilized by Wake Forest University. Initially, patients are cooled to a core temperature of approximately 34?C to 35?C. Once cooled, peritoneal perfusion inflow and outflow catheters are placed peroutaneously into abdominal cavity. With temperature probes acting as moderators, abdomen is gently massaged throughout perfusion to enhance drug distribution to all peritoneal areas. Because tumor tissue is more responsive to heat than normal tissue (due to intrinsic thermosensitivity) IHPC improves chemosensitivity of tumor cells to Mytomycin C(MMC).

It is ultimately up to you to decide which method is healthy and convenient for you.

When you visit an indoor tanning facility, your skin produces a tan in same way that it does when you bask in sun -- through absorption of ultraviolet light.

================================================= However, one of dangers of outdoor tanning is exposing yourself to too much ultraviolet light. Climate changes in atmosphere that has many of us slathering on sunblock and sunscreen before we step outside in hot sun. =================================================

One of benefits of indoor tanning versus outdoor tanning is that it allows you to control amount of UV light that you are exposed to, so that you do not get a sunburn or prepare your epidermis for a predisposition to skin cancer.

================================================= You cannot control harmful UV rays from sun anymore than you can control weather. =================================================

If you compare indoor tanning versus outdoor tanning, outdoor tanning is actually one of most unreliable ways to achieve that perfect tan. It is, however, a reliable way to achieve a sunburn.

Waiting for a reddish burn to fade to a brown accelerates aging process.

Indoor tanning equipment utilizes same two kinds of ultraviolet light, UVA and UVB rays that are emitted by sun. Indoor tanning procedures are highly regulated by government agencies in both Canada and United States and equipment is designed to mimic effect of sunlight.