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Dena Svoboda, 56, never expected a bad case of acid reflux would turn out to be cancer. “I thought it was a gallbladder issue, but it wasn’t,” said Dena, of Sagamore Hills, Ohio. “It ended up being a 25-pound tumor.”
Dena was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had surgery at Cleveland Clinic to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy. But just over a year later, the cancer returned.
Once ovarian cancer returns, the prognosis usually isn’t good, with many patients living only about another year, said Dana’s physician, Robert DeBernardo, M.D., a gynecologic oncologist and Director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program at Cleveland Clinic.
But nearly four years later, Dena has defied the odds — thanks to a novel treatment during her second surgery called a “chemo bath,” which research has shown helps women with advanced ovarian cancer live longer, with a better quality of life.
During an 8.5-hour operation, a surgical team led by Dr. DeBernardo removed the cancer that had spread to Dena’s appendix, gallbladder and bowels. And then, it was time for her chemo bath –officially called hyperthermic (or heated) intraoperative peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) .
“Once the cancer is out, we insert tubes in the abdomen, close the incision, and circulate chemotherapy directly for up to 90 minutes,” Dr. DeBernardo said. “Studies show that patients who receive this treatment are doing better.”
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Dena certainly has. Nearly four years after receiving her chemo bath she is thriving, and her cancer has not recurred.
“I think it’s allowed me to still be here,” said Dena. “I’ve been very blessed.”
Used to treat cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdominal cavity, such as those of the appendix, colon, stomach and ovaries, HIPEC is an innovative method of delivering chemotherapy.
Unlike traditional chemotherapy that is delivered intravenously, or through a vein, HIPEC delivers chemotherapy directly into the abdomen, making it a good option for cancers that originated in or have spread to the abdominal cavity.
The use of HIPEC as a treatment for advanced ovarian cancer is on the rise, and its effectiveness has been confirmed by recent studies. Results of a clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated a significant advantage in survival rates for women with ovarian cancer who received HIPEC.
Over the past four years, Cleveland Clinic physicians have performed more than 100 HIPEC procedures on select women with advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer, making Cleveland Clinic’s HIPEC program one of the largest in the country.
“Advanced ovarian cancer has typically been a fatal disease,” Dr. DeBernardo said. “HIPEC is very promising because it is helping us achieve our goal of having people live longer, and live better.”
Dena has continued to receive chemotherapy infusions intravenously every five weeks with minimal side effects. She says the ongoing treatment is a small price to pay for a healthy and productive life.
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“The treatments are just part of my routine now, just something you have to do, like taking a pill,” Dena explained.
Dena’s first tumor was discovered during her yearly gynecologic check-up. During her treatment, she learned she has a BRCA gene mutation that has been associated with ovarian cancer. She would like her daughters to be tested for the BRCA mutation; while they are a bit hesitant to do so, she says she and Dr. DeBernardo are working on convincing them.
She urges women who are having symptoms that could be associated with ovarian cancer to get checked by their gynecologists, sooner rather than later.
“Be proactive and be aware,” Dena said. “And have faith.”
Follow @CleClinicNews on Twitter for the latest stories on inspiring patients, medical innovation and breakthrough research.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.
