IVOQA’s multidisciplinary approach to advanced cancer treatment
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, affecting 1 in 5 people during their lifetime. The approach to this disease requires a highly specialized multidisciplinary treatment that combines scientific research, personalized medical care and psychological support.
In this sense, the Viamed Institute of Advanced Surgical Oncology (IVOQA), located in the Santa Elena hospital in Madrid, has established itself as a benchmark in the comprehensive and personalized treatment of cancer patients, ensuring a unique accompaniment to patients and families throughout the process of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.
With a team of high-level professionals, IVOQA is led by Dr. Delia Cortés Guiral, General and Digestive System surgeon, specialized in Peritoneal Oncological Surgery and in the treatment of early, advanced and metastatic cancers.
“IVOQA has a great multidisciplinary specialized team at the disposal of patients from the very first moment. At our Institute we offer highly innovative treatments for patients with advanced cancer that are not available in other cancer units,” explains Dr. Cortés. In particular, many hospitals in Spain lack a specific unit for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis.
Advanced and minimally invasive techniques
IVOQA offers cancer patients a first class surgical treatment, using minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery, to treat the primary tumor, but also for the treatment of advanced or metastatic stages.
The team of doctors are renowned experts in surgery of the colon, rectum, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, appendix, small intestine, ovary, uterus and peritoneum, being specialists in techniques such as PIPAC (pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy), cytoreduction surgery and peritonectomy and HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) by laparoscopic and open approach.
IVOQA also stands out for being the first center in Spain to perform ePIPAC, a technique for patients with chemo-resistant disease and even in cases of disease resistant to treatment with PIPAC. It consists of adding electrostatic precipitation to PIPAC to increase the penetration of the chemotherapy into the tumor nodules and improve its distribution within the abdomen.
“Performing minimally invasive techniques is very important because it allows for a very fast recovery. For example, after ePIPAC surgery the stay is only one night, allowing the patient to resume chemotherapy or systemic treatment after 12 to 15 days,” adds the specialist.
In addition, the IVOQA team includes professionals from different specialties such as medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, digestive oncologists, intensivists, anesthesiologists, endocrinologists, hematologists, psycho-oncologists, radiologists, gynecologists, dermatologists, dentists, rehabilitators, sports trainers and nurses specialized in the treatment of cancer patients.
The center also has a series of highly advanced molecular panels that make it possible to carry out targeted therapies to determine which type of chemotherapy or immunotherapy the patient’s tumor is most sensitive to. “That is to say, we carry out a joint assessment among all the specialists and design absolutely personalized treatments for cancer patients,” stresses the director of IVOQA. The center has a follow-up program for high-risk and precancerous lesions
Patient at the center
For its part, humanization is one of IVOQA’s pillars, present in day-to-day patient care. “That is why our facilities are designed to generate the least impact of hospital feeling on the patient,” adds Dr. Cortés.
IVOQA’s commitment to humanization and innovation in cancer treatment makes this center a benchmark in advanced surgical oncology.
