Since 2020, we funded nearly £300,000 to bring a revolutionary new cancer treatment to patients in East London.
CRS-HIPEC (cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy treatment) is an incredibly powerful and targeted therapy. It involves surgically removing cancerous tumours before heated chemotherapy is pumped around the body to kill any remaining cells.
Compared to traditional chemotherapy, CRS-HIPEC is shown to increase survival rates for eligible cancer patients. It was first introduced at The Royal London Hospital in 2020 and has been giving new hope to patients with cancers of the appendix, colon or rectum.
“With Barts Charity funding, we’ve been able to establish this highly specialised surgery to support the people of East London, who previously had to travel miles to have this life changing treatment. Now, we’re working to expand the service to provide the best care for more of our patients with cancer.”Dr Annamaria Minicozzi, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
A first for London healthcare
When it was first introduced, The Royal London Hospital was one of only a few NHS centres in the UK offering this treatment. Before, patients were referred to sites outside of London, causing delays and missed windows of opportunity for treatment. Thanks to our funding, people can now access specialised care closer to home.
Expanding the service
In North London, data has shown a 20% increase in ovarian cancer cases between 2018-2022. A lot of these patients are diagnosed at a late stage, which sadly means that chances of survival are lower. Now, thanks to a £48,000 expansion of the programme, CRS-HIPEC will offer these patients new hope.
A newly established CRS and HITHOC (hypothermic intrathoracic chemotherapy) programme is a key part of expanding the project. This is a similar treatment to HIPEC but in the chest cavity. This will be the first dedicated HITHOC centre in the UK.
Amna’s story
In late 2024, Amna, a 35-year-old mother of two, began experiencing sharp pains near her ovaries and pelvis. This then led to months of stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating. Further scans and biopsies revealed news that was to change Amna’s life forever – she had stage four ovarian cancer.
Amna was referred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital to begin chemotherapy immediately, with a plan to carry out surgery halfway through her treatment at The Royal London Hospital. She responded well to the initial chemotherapy and was delighted when her oncology team offered her the opportunity to undergo CRS-HIPEC surgery. In fact, Amna was only the second ovarian cancer patient to receive this type of treatment at The Royal London Hospital.
Amna recalls “When I received the phone call from my oncologist Dr Cruzs, to tell me that after discussions, I could have the treatment, my husband and I were overjoyed – it gave us hope.”
“To come from such a low to such a high after the CRS-HIPEC surgery has been incredible. I am so delighted to have that opportunity because we know so many hospitals don't offer that at all. I feel really privileged that it was available to me.”Amna, ovarian cancer patient