Kauvery Hospital Pioneers Advanced Cancer Surgery That Combines Tumor Removal and Targeted Chemotherapy
- Primary Peritoneal Carcinomatosis is a rare and aggressive cancer that most commonly affects women after menopause and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.
- The hospital combines cytoreductive surgery to remove visible tumors with intraperitoneal chemotherapy to directly target microscopic cancer cells after surgery.
Tirunelveli, December, 2025: In a significant medical milestone for South Tamil Nadu, Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli, has successfully combined cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy — a first-of-its-kind procedure in the region — to save the life of a 62-year-old woman suffering from an advanced-stage Primary Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, a rare cancer of the peritoneum.
The combined treatment approach removed visible cancer cells and destroyed residual microscopic cancer cells, ensuring a complete recovery and paving the way for advanced cancer care in the region.The patient showed excellent postoperative recovery. She was discharged in good health and continues to do well under regular follow-up care.
The patient, had been diagnosed with the aggressive. By the time of diagnosis, the disease had reached an advanced third stage.
The surgical team at Kauvery Hospital opted for an integrated approach. It first performed cytoreductive surgery that involved the removal of peritoneum and all visible cancer tissues in the affected organs, reducing the tumor burden to a minimal level. Immediately after this, the team administered IP chemotherapy delivering anti-cancer drugs directly into the abdominal cavity to target and destroy microscopic cancer cells that might have escaped surgical removal.
The surgical team was led by Dr. Anitha Gandhi, a reputed surgical oncologist, assisted by Dr. M J Muralikannan, and the anesthesia team comprising Dr. Kamadevi, Dr. Sai, Dr. Inbarasan, and Dr. Maharajan.
In her remarks, Dr. Anitha Gandhi explained that ovarian and peritoneal cancers are among the most challenging and life-threatening cancers because nearly two-thirds of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. “This patient was no exception — she came to us in Stage III. We initially administered six cycles of chemotherapy and later performed surgery to remove all affected organs, including the peritoneum. But the most critical component of the treatment was IP chemotherapy, a recent advancement in ovarian and peritoneal cancer therapy. The patient was discharged on the twelfth day after surgery and is now recovering well. This marks the first time in South Tamil Nadu that cytoreductive surgery and IP chemotherapy have been combined to treat cancer.”
Explaining the combined procedure, Dr Anitha said that the cytoreductive procedure was a major operation aimed at the complete removal of all visible cancer from the abdominal cavity, while IP chemotherapy was chosen to remove the invisible, tiny nodules of cancer after the surgery. “Normally, chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously, allowing them to circulate through the bloodstream. But in intraperitoneal chemotherapy, the drug is placed directly into the abdominal cavity, where the cancer cells reside. This allows the medicine to come into direct contact with the tumor cells spread across the peritoneum, rather than relying solely on blood circulation. It is a highly effective way to destroy microscopic cancer cells that remain after surgery,” she pointed out.
Primary Peritoneal Carcinomatosis is most commonly seen in women, particularly after menopause. Because the symptoms develop slowly and are often vague — including abdominal bloating or swelling (due to fluid buildup called ascites), loss of appetite, indigestion, abdominal pain or pressure, fatigue, and changes in bowel habits — early diagnosis is difficult
