Lisa,
I'm a HIPECer for colon cancer primary in December '08. Dr Sugarbaker did my surgery. I live in CA and had an acute situation on my hands when it was clear that HIPEC was the best treatment plan for me. I needed to get the surgery quickly as my tumors were putting pressure on my colon and not allowing me to pass anything. We were planning the trip and I met with Sugarbaker and another surgical oncologist in the one day we had to decide who would do the surgery. Sugarbaker had only had one slot due to a cancellation two days before Christmas and we flew to DC without meeting him in person. This was all within one week of discovering the monster met in my peritoneum.
My husband, my sister who is a surgical nurse practitioner and myself all said that if we were not impressed when we flew to DC we were out of there. We were very impressed. He is an amazing "pushing seventy" as you say and a very vibrant, together and extremely impressive man. I have complete confidence in him and who go to him again in a heartbeat.
In September I had a Pet/ct that showed a recurrence in my peritoneum. Floored and freaked my onc set me up for a MR and was preparing to send me again to see the kind doctor. MR ended up showing a loop in the bowel and just a false alarm. I have every confidence in Sugarbaker and his team.
Having said all of that, I am sure that there are a good many doctors who could also do well by your husband.
I had an 8-9 hour surgery. This included debulking and removing extensive adhesions, tumor removal, scrapping of the peritoneal cavity and another colon resection. I don't have on ostomy. He hooked me back up but did mark before the surgery just in case.
We now have evidence based studies to confirm the efficacy of the numbers that Sugarbaker himself found doing the surgery solo for so long.
Hope this is helpful to you. Please feel free to email me at
hipecworks@gmail.com if you wish to speak privately. I am happy to share what I know. Any other questions, please ask away.
Jennifer
Stage IV: dx 8/07 at 39.. colon & liver resection & rt ovary
17 rounds of folfox.
12/08 ovary tumor removed with HIPEC & folfiri w/Avastin
9/11 liver resection # 2 followed by chemo
NED
Have Hope with Capitol H