‘Hot chemotherapy’

Gary Woodward loves spending his retirement traveling with his wife. In recent years, the 75-year-old St. Augustine resident has been to Europe and Alaska.

His ability to continue seeing the world is thanks to an innovative treatment he received at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“He recovered beautifully. He’s doing great and has an excellent quality of life,” said Niraj Gusani, MD, FACS, surgical oncologist and chief of Surgical Oncology at Baptist MD Anderson.

Taking action in the abdomen: HIPEC treatment

In 2022, Woodward was diagnosed with a low-grade appendiceal mucinous tumor (neoplasm), a type of cancer in the glands of the appendix. Following an appendectomy in his previous home state of New Jersey, doctors determined the slow-growing tumor had been developing for more than 20 years.

“These neoplasms can mimic symptoms of acute appendicitis at first, and that’s how they’re usually discovered,” said Robert Zaiden, MD, FACP, Woodward’s medical oncologist at Baptist MD Anderson.

These types of tumors also generally don’t respond well to regular chemotherapy.

Instead, doctors turned to hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), also known as “hot chemotherapy.” Performed on Woodward by Dr. Gusani, this treatment involves warming and administering chemotherapy directly into the abdomen to treat the microscopic disease that could be lingering in the abdominal lining (peritoneum). The benefits of a HIPEC include applying a high concentration of chemotherapy to abdominal tumors while minimizing systemic absorption, therefore reducing side effects.

HIPEC is done in combination with cytoreductive surgery, which removes all visible tumors within the peritoneal cavity. This treatment approach can be used to treat several abdominal cancers including colorectal cancer, appendiceal cancer, ovarian cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and stomach cancer.

Back to traveling

The HIPEC procedure removed all traces of Woodward’s widespread cancer and greatly reduced the risk of the disease coming back or spreading. He continues with follow-up appointments and scans every six months.

“Everyone at Baptist MD Anderson was terrific. I can’t say enough,” Woodward said. “Dr. Gusani and his team were great. Everything went well.”

The support team has also been comforting, recognizing him and greeting him warmly at every visit.

“It’s nice, like a family,” Woodward said.

The retired engineer has been able to continue his travel plans the past couple of years, visiting destinations throughout the world and U.S. with his wife.

Woodward is thankful for the innovative treatment from Baptist MD Anderson.

“It’s pretty amazing. Every day there is something new,” he said. “I’m grateful for what they did for me. I don’t know what would have happened if they didn’t catch it.”

Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center has everything you need to take on cancer. To learn more, visit BaptistMDAnderson.com or call 1.844.632.2278.