What should you know about intraperitoneal chemotherapy for ovarian cancer?

The peritoneum is the thin lining inside the abdomen. With intraperitoneal treatment, medicine is placed into this space through a catheter or implanted port, rather than being given only through a vein. The medicine can circulate around organs and areas where ovarian cancer cells may be present. Treatment may be used after surgery, alongside intravenous chemotherapy, or in another sequence chosen by the oncology team. It is not suitable for every person: the decision depends on the cancer's location and extent, previous treatment, recovery from surgery, kidney function, blood counts, and overall health.

An abdominal port can remain in place for repeated treatments. A session may involve fluid entering the abdomen, a period for the medicine to work, and drainage or removal of the fluid according to the treatment plan. Common practical concerns include abdominal pressure, nausea, pain, fatigue, and changes in blood counts. Your team can prescribe medicines for nausea and explain how to protect the port and incision sites.

Before treatment, ask how the port will be placed, whether you need blood tests or scans, which medicines and supplements to pause, and how eating and drinking should be managed on treatment days. Keep a written list of symptoms, temperature readings if advised, and medicines. Arrange help with transport and daily tasks if fatigue or abdominal discomfort is expected. Do not remove, press, or clean a port dressing unless your clinical team has given you instructions.

The wider plan may include ovarian cancer debulking surgery, intravenous chemotherapy, or supportive care. Your clinician may also discuss pelvic ultrasound, genomic tumour profiling, or BRCA genetic testing when these are relevant to diagnosis, treatment selection, or family risk.

Contact your oncology service promptly if you develop a fever, chills, worsening abdominal pain or swelling, repeated vomiting, severe diarrhoea, inability to keep fluids down, new shortness of breath, or marked weakness. Seek urgent help for confusion, fainting, severe breathing difficulty, or uncontrolled bleeding. Redness, warmth, pus, or increasing tenderness around the port or wound can indicate infection and should be reported without waiting for the next appointment.

Ask why intraperitoneal treatment is being recommended for you, how it fits with chemotherapy through a vein or surgery, how the port will be monitored, which side effects require a same-day call, and what happens if a treatment must be delayed. Ask who to contact outside clinic hours and whether palliative care or another supportive service could help with pain, nausea, sleep, nutrition, or emotional strain.