Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy Treatment
Providing chemotherapy treatment for many cancer types.
Sometimes called systemic therapy, chemotherapy is given to treat cancer and prevent its recurrence, and can be used alone or in conjunction with surgery or radiation therapy. The medication flows through the body to target and destroy fast-growing cells — cancer cells, as well as others.
The excellent care you've come to expect.
At Sharp, patients receive chemotherapy and other supportive medical treatments from specially trained nurses in a comfortable environment, and return home on the same day. Chemotherapy is generally given in cycles — a treatment period is following by a recovery period before another treatment period begins.
Types of chemotherapy treatments.
- Heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Biologic therapy
Helpful chemotherapy resources.
While our team of clinical experts is always happy to address any questions you may have, we also recommend reviewing the following resources.
- Chemocare: Managing side effects
- National Cancer Institute: Food safety
- American Cancer Society: IVs, ports and PICCs
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Infection prevention and pet safety
- National Cancer Institute: Chemotherapy and You
How to prepare for chemotherapy treatment.
Learn more about what to expect and how to prepare for chemotherapy treatment at Sharp and read our guide on food safety during cancer treatment.
The staff at Sharp's infusion therapy centers will work with you to make your experience as convenient and comfortable as possible.
Before your visit for chemotherapy treatment.
- Your doctor's office will make your first appointment.
- After your first appointment, you will schedule future appointments.
- Chemotherapy plans vary based on each patient's individual needs. At your first appointment we will explain how long each of your future appointments will last.
Upon arrival for your chemotherapy treatment.
- When you arrive, schedule your next visit with the team member at the reception area.
- For your safety, our staff will verify your identity.
- A certified chemotherapy nurse will talk to you about your chemotherapy drugs.
- You may receive medication prior to chemotherapy to help reduce potential side effects.
- Your nurse will start an intravenous line or access your central line to administer your medication.
- Once your treatment begins, our team will closely monitor you and keep you comfortable throughout your visit.
Your comfort during your chemotherapy treatment matters.
- When you arrive one of our nurses will help you settle into a recliner.
- Feel free to invite family members or close friends to keep you company during your treatment; we have limited space and ask that you limit your visitors to two people per visit.
- We suggest that you dress in layers to ensure your comfort as the temperature naturally fluctuates during the day and throughout the space. We can also provide a warm blanket if you are cold.
- We provide coffee, tea, juice or soft drinks. Please feel free to bring any additional snacks, lunch or drinks to your appointment.
Cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy
Cytoreductive surgery is a procedure used to remove all visible tumors on the peritoneum or the thin membrane lining the abdominal and pelvic cavities. Time of the operation depends on the patient's condition with the average length between 8 to 10 hours and more extensive tumors requiring up to 20 hours of surgery.
Heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdominal cavity at the same time as tumor removal. The chemotherapy solution is heated to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, which causes the tumor cell membrane to become more permeable to the chemotherapy drugs, resulting in a greater likelihood of killing the tumor cells.
Through this elite treatment method, Sharp has drastically improved the length of survival — in some cases by three to five times the average — in patients suffering from recurrent and metastatic cancer spread to the abdomen. This procedure is specifically designed for primary and recurrent ovarian cancer, appendiceal cancer and other types of widely spread gastrointestinal cancers.
Types of tumors treated.
HIPEC can be used to treat tumors that have spread within the abdominal cavity. These tumors include cancers originating from the:
- Appendix
- Colon
- Mesothelioma
- Ovary
- Peritoneum
- Rectum
- Sarcoma
- Stomach
What to expect with HIPEC treatment.
- The HIPEC procedure, performed at the same time as the cytoreductive surgery, will take between 60 to 90 minutes.
- After your surgery, you can expect to stay in the intensive care unit from one to three days — depending on the length and extent of your surgery — before transferring to the oncology unit, where you will be cared for by our experienced nurses.
- Follow-up visits include meeting with your provider four to six weeks after your hospital discharge, blood tumor markers every three months and a physical exam and MRI every six months
Cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy are currently offered at Sharp Memorial Hospital. To learn more, please call 858-637-7888.
We'll help find the doctor who's right for you.
View doctors specializing in oncology in San Diego.
All Categories
- Bariatric surgery
- Bariatric surgery seminars
- Breast cancer
- Cancer
- Cancer support groups
- Caregiving
- Childbirth preparation
- Chronic disease management
- Community events
- Congestive heart failure
- Continuing education
- CPR and first aid
- Embarazo y parto
- En español
- Exercise
- Financial and health care planning
- Gentle exercise
- Health screenings
- Heart
- Integrative and complementary medicine
- Medicare
- Men's health
- Mental health
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- Newborn and baby care
- Nutrition
- Online education programs
- Orthopedics
- Pain management
- Parenting and child development
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prenatal hospital tours
- Rehabilitation
- Robotic surgery
- Seniors and aging
- Sharp Chula Vista employees
- Sharp employee education
- Sharp employee online education
- Sharp Grossmont employees
- Sharp Metro employees
- Sharp Training Center
- Sharp-Rees Stealy employees
- Smoking cessation
- Stress management
- Stroke
- Weight management
- Wellness
- Women's care
- View category descriptions
Contact Sharp HealthCare
Call 1-800-827-4277 or view our detailed phone directory.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
Please do not use this form to convey personal or medical information.
What's This?
These important numbers are located on your billing statement.
Find your SharpCare account number
What's GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governs the processing of personal information gathered from individuals while they are in the European Union (EU) and parts of the EEA (European Economic Area, which currently includes Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway).
We are sorry, but we are unable to process your price estimate if you live or are travelling within the EU or affiliated nations.
What's This?
Many surgery and procedure names sound similar. If possible, please provide the current procedure terminology (CPT) code, which can be found on the order from your doctor.
If you cannot provide the CPT code, please contact your doctor's office for the CPT or a detailed description of services.