THE PATIENT JOURNEY

Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and HIPEC (Hyperthermic IntraPeritoneal Chemotherapy)

is a specialised treatment for tumours that have originated in or spread within the abdomen onto the peritoneum (i.e. the lining covering the surface of abdominal organs and the abdominal wall), such as appendix and colorectal cancer.

Good Hope Hospital (Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands) provides acute and elective specialised surgical services locally and regionally, including The Peritoneal Tumour Service.

This information resource has been specifically produced for patients referred for Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC, covering all steps of the ‘Patient Journey’ from initial referral to investigations, surgery, recovery and follow-up. Patients and their families can gain an in-depth understanding of what the surgery and post-operative care entails whilst familarising themselves with staff members and their specific roles.

The interactive resource contains a “Main Patient Pathway” that follows the whole journey of actual patients, whilst also enabling users to navigate to individual pathway steps.

An “Extras” section focuses on aspects such as stoma care, nutrition, patients’ own experiences and interviews with CRS/HIPEC experts.

A detailed Frequently Asked Questions or “FAQs” section provides further information and clarification of terms.

“I think this is an excellent idea….and will help patients understand all what they need to know…”

Eva Stanton

Patient

“I hope it will help a lot people to see that once you’ve had the treatment, you can get back up and start to live your life again…”

Barbara Cook

Patient

“If you can take some hope and comfort from other patients like myself who have been through it…then it’s all the better for you”

Carl Dryden

Patient

“Special thanks go to all the staff and patients who participated in this resource, for sharing their knowledge and experiences for the benefit of future patients and their families”